As a few of our #RadLivin speakers and friends got started through one of our favourite programs, Dreamstarter by ING Direct, we wanted to sit down with some new faces and hear how they got started.
We spoke with the legend Jarrod Wheatley, Founder of SAMA (Street Art Murals Australia), to chat about making ideas happen, saying yes to risks, and collaborating with the local community.
SAMA works with young artists to transform their creative energy into constructive forms of street art, as well as helping senior artists on professional development.
In 2015, he launched his Dreamstarter crowdfunding campaign for his Street Art Walk project. Because the project was heavily created for the community, Jarrod found that crowdfunding was not only a positive way to raise funds for his idea, but to build up a positive relationship and support from the community. SAMA is not only about supporting young people’s artistic talents through a positive outlet, but changing the way people see spray art.
Meet Jarrod…
Where are you in the world?
Ho Chi Mihn (getting some good food) in transit to Frankfurt. But I live in Surry Hills, Sydney.
How do you follow your bliss?
I am very fortunate to be able to pursue my purpose as part of my paid work. I would not describe this feeling as bliss. It is not always easy, in fact it is often the most difficult thing I do. It is, however, deeply satisfying. I make decisions based on how to most effectively serve the cause I am trying to support/achieve. Often this leads me into spaces of negotiating with government behinds the scenes rather than painting murals or working with young people. This has particularly been the case with Professional Individualised Care (PIC). Even though I love my work and I truly cannot think of one thing I would rather do more, when I think of “bliss” I think of my friends, family and especially my partner.
When did the idea for SAMA first come about and why is it so important to you?
I am a curious person and see opportunity everywhere. I didn’t so much as go looking for SAMA (streetartmurals.com.au) or PIC (mypic.org.au) but recognised something I thought that needed to be done. With SAMA it was simply that there was a subculture that wanted to paint art and there were little opportunities to do so legally. While many in society saw graffiti as a problem, I saw it as an asset. Something that added to the vibrancy of our urban environments, and most importantly expressed a voice that is not often heard in the mainstream. People also wanted to commission murals, so SAMA acts as the link to make this happen and then takes the profits and invests them in community projects as a charity. This is often called a “strengths-based approach. Find the opportunity in the area others find issues.
Aside from receiving funds to get SAMA off the ground, what was the most positive thing about crowd funding and would you recommend it to other people with big ideas?
I presume you are referring to the Street Art Walk project that we funded with a Dreamstarter campaign. SAMA had already been running for a number of years but the Street Art Walk was our most ambitious project at that point. Over 30 murals totaling over 3,000 square meters painted in a weekend from local and international artists.
My opinion of crowdfunding – to me it is primarly an awareness raising tool. It is about getting community engagement and investment behind your project. Raising money is important however there are many ways to do that – profits from the business wing of SAMA, grants, philanthropy etc. Crowdfunding’s unique selling point is that you are getting the community that cares about your cause engaged and supporting your project. We raised around $20,000 in small donations from the community that cares about free public art and graffiti, where the artists are painting what they want, not just what a business will commission. Dreamstarter were great, they had the right partners and know-how and I would definitely recommend them. This is definitely a great way to get an project of a the ground.
Have you ever been afraid to take a risk whether with SAMA or life and how did you move past it?
I tend to think to myself, “will I regret giving this a go”? The answer is always no. Then I take the challenge on, and if I start to think “I’ve done it again, what have I done!” I am already committed and just see it through with persistence. It is like you develop mussel memory for being on your ‘learning edge’. I tend to live on that edge, not so challenged that I fall off, but never so comfortable that I am not being really pushed to do something new and grow.
I think it is normal to doubt yourself sometimes when you do something new. I try not to invest any energy in that feeling. I recognise it, name it, then trust that the decision I made to take it on was the right one and move forward.
There are often deep, and sometimes real, reasons why we fear taking risks. Take them seriously, maybe speak about them with a mentor or psychologist. People are capable of amazing things, often the biggest barrier is our mind. Prioritise time to keep on top of it and your project will benefit.
What advice could you give to someone who knows what they love to do, but haven’t yet gone for it?
I am probably not telling people anything new here but here goes:
- It isn’t easy, but still do it. If you are ‘failing’ at anything it at least means you are trying to do something.
- People partner with ‘opportunity’ not ‘ideas’ in my experience. Stop speaking about it like something you want to make happen, instead make plans for it to happen. Others will be far more likely to get involved and help. This is connected to ‘momentum’. Get it and keep it. That means just trying and trying different ways to make progress.
- Try and cut down on escapism, TV etc. We all have our own way to relax wich is fine but this will free up a lot of time to do things the nourish your vision. Also seeing less ads can only help 🙂
- Be thankful of the privilege and people you have. Tell someone you love them today. Everything is easier to do with support of those around us.
- The world needs people to make a positive difference. If not you then who? Connecting with a purpose increases wellbeing and all in all leads to a more interesting, happy life I think.
