Charlie Mcfarley is a true friend of Art for Guernsey. He first brought his street art to the island when he helped to cover the walls of the gallery for the Transformation exhibition, and has subsequently returned a number of times for projects which include the Jubilee Skatepark. Charlie came back to Guernsey in May to work on a mural with Le Murier School for the Finding Turner project, but as a bonus he created something extra special for the students.
The pupils of Le Murier were excited to meet Charlie at the Art for Guernsey Gallery. “They had been looking at my work at school and had made drawings inspired by my artwork which I had been sent before my arrival in Guernsey. This meant we had already formed a connection through art. The students were looking forward to using spray paint during the workshop. I find when young people first get to hold a spray can it gives them a feeling of freedom and creative power. They are allowed to become rebels!” explained Charlie.
After the students had successfully completed a workshop to create a mural for the next stage of the Finding Turner journey, Chris Sayer, a teacher at Le Murier, asked Charlie if he would consider going to the school the following day to paint “something small” in the playground. Chris wanted the piece to feature the school’s anti-bullying message, which Charlie thought was a great idea. “I felt privileged being able to leave a permanent piece of art for the students to enjoy and feel inspired by, knowing they were part of the process,” he said.
The finished mural was a lot bigger than everyone had expected, and some students asked Charlie if he was really allowed to paint graffiti on the school wall. The process was a revelation for the whole school community: “What made it so much fun was that I was constantly surrounded by enthusiastic children and teachers asking me questions and commentating on the progress of the mural. Everyone was shocked to see how fast the mural came together. The great thing about using spray paint is that you can cover a large area in a very short time, which makes a big impact on those who are watching it unfold.”
We’re sure you’ll agree that the mural is a fantastic work of art which delivers a powerful message. Charlie’s affinity with the island fills us with confidence that he’ll be back with his unique street art in the future: “I love coming to Guernsey, I’m always looked after really well by the Art for Guernsey team and made to feel like part of the family. The young people of Guernsey are eager to engage with my style of art and are keen to learn new skills, I always leave feeling inspired by their enthusiasm!”
