If you’ve ever spent any time in Brisbane, you’re probably familiar with the coalies – big dirty train carriages that transport coal – and are often blessed with a fresh lick of colour, or black and chrome, by writers from all over. You can’t talk about Brissy graff without acknowledging them, they’re such an iconic part of the history. I have fond memories of seeing classic Dorps and Pubes coalies rolling on my first jaunt to Brisbane many years ago.
In celebration of these big dirty surfaces, the crew at Crush City put together an exhibition featuring some of Australia’s best letterbenders using replica coalies as their canvas. The show launched in June and was a huge success. The trains were displayed for one night only at Crush City, and then boxed up, and sent out to their new homes around the country. Probably the only coalies in history to be shipped via Australia Post.
We spoke to the big boss over at Crush to get the skinny on what the show was all about.
Firstly, congrats on the show. From what I can tell that shit sold out. Well played.
Man, it was crazy. We couldn’t have been happier with the outcome. The writers involved came correct. All class.
For the uninitiated (those overseas/ interstate), please explain what Brisbane Coalies are, and their significance within Brisbane graff?
Well basically, coalies are coal hoppers that run the rails from one side of Queensland to the other. As far back to early 90’s they have taken a severe beating predominantly first by Westline writers, up to present day where you will see names rocking from all four corners of the city. Even the odd faint outlines still exist from panels decades old.
What made you want to do this show? Tell more more about the conception and execution of it all.
With an abundance of street art festivals in our city, I just wanted to celebrate the art of font – dope letters, fresh characters. Just straight up fuckin’ graffiti! With a lot of painful back and forth emails with the laser cutters, and with helpful contacts through local writer Gerns, the project gained traction. In all about 25 cut outs passed quality control. The rest of the exhibit was blown up prints of past and present pieces. Many thanks to the few who pillaged through their shoeboxes and memory cards for gems. Also to Dgm for the prints.
Seeing the trains online first, I thought they were more like the one-sided plastic NY subway cars that people paint. I was pleasantly surprised to see in the flesh that they’re actually metal. This must have been a pain in the neck. How’d you go about getting these made?
I mean coalies in the flesh are dirty metal canvases. It was appropriate we approached the project in a similar manner. It really wasn’t an easy feat. Once we were all on the same page with the design, it proceeded smoothly. I decided to make three full complete cars as the centrepiece of the show. A lot of hours of fabrication went into cutting and welding these together. They came up fresh.
You custom aged all the trains too yeah? Adding the QR logo as a stencil etc. Tell me more about this. What was your process?
Stencils upon fuckin’ stencils. This stage really started to drag the chain. Between drying time, and finding the time, it was a slow process. I ended up going with Lazy Grey, Melbourne, and Washington for the main details – Techie fades with some rusty brown smudges. JB Design came correct yet again with the decals. Nothing is ever too much for that guy. Like me, he loves the challenge.
How did you select the writers? And how did you pick who got to paint on the three-dimensional trains? What about those who paired up on a single carriage?
It kind of fell into place. Though we could have easily filled another 30 coalies with dope names if we had the time. We wanted, firstly, actual heavy hitters that bless the coals on the reg. Names that are rocking on every consist as we speak. We also reached out to mates up and down the east coast of Australia – Gold Coast to Melburn – for a nice mix of styles. The full cars, due to the size and weight, came down to convenience in the end.
It was a solid line up; can you name drop the list?
Mate. The line up was heavy as fuck. We can’t thank the lads enough. The individual detail that went into them proved, to me personally, that graffiti in its purist form, is very much alive and kicking in 2019. Kure, Meks, Reals, Bore, Blex, Dizne, Duper, Armer, Kiss, Ivo, Ache, Ekaer, Lepar, Space, Basix, Snarl, Break, Mach, Tues, Cauts, Teks, Lucks, Odie, and Sofles.
And you used real coal ganked from an actual coalie too yeah?
Hahahaha!!! That’s the rumour anyway!
Which was your favourite car in the show? Which one sold first?
Shit!! That’s a tough one bro. Even after sleeping on this, I still can’t decide. Too many heaters.
The [Cure] sold in record time.
Any plans for round two?
Mos’ definitely! When time permits. The positive feedback we got from the city was very much appreciated.
Onwards up upwards.
Word up.
Crush City Fame.
Visit Crush City in Brisbane at 423 Ipswich Rd, Annerley
Or check them out online
Instagram: @crushcityfame
Website: crushcity.com.au
Luke Shirlaw is the founder of Artillery Projects – a graffiti art publisher, and visual studio specialising in mural production, graphic design, and content creation. Follow him on Instagram, and subscribe to Artillery’s ‘The Drop’ for exclusive email interviews.