Honiara Hustle: Street Art in the Solomons
yeah so i'm here in honiara trying to make some art happen. it's kind of crazy how different it is from back home. the humidity is something else - i just checked and it's basically a warm, damp hug right now, hope you like that kind of thing. my paints are drying slower than a snail on valium.
been hitting up some of the local markets trying to find materials. someone told me that the best spot for paint is actually the *central market, but you gotta go early before they run out. i made that mistake once and ended up using shoe polish for a mural - not recommended, unless you're going for that distressed look i guess.
"if you're gonna paint near the parliament buildings, make sure you don't use any political symbols unless you wanna have a chat with some serious-looking dudes in uniforms. trust me on this one." - sam, a dreadlocked dude who sells coconuts near the wharf
the locals here have been pretty mixed about my work. some folks love it, others... not so much. i heard that there's this one expat who goes around covering up street art with concrete, calling it 'beautification.' whatever that means.
if you get restless, the outer islands are just a short boat ride away. malaita and guadalcanal both have some pretty interesting spots to paint, though getting permission is another story altogether. check out this guide if you're thinking about exploring.
"that aussie guy who runs the backpackers? yeah, he'll let you use his garage if you paint a mural for his bar. just don't use any red paint, he's superstitious about it or something." - lily, who works at the internet café
been trying to figure out where to get decent coffee. found this one spot called java junction* that's actually not bad. they roast their own beans, which is rare around here. yelp review says it's the best in town, but what do they know?
someone told me that the local council is thinking about doing a street art festival next year, but i'm not holding my breath. these things tend to fall through when you're in the solomons. still, it's nice to dream, right?
pressure's been weird lately - feels like the air's thicker than usual. my joints are aching a bit, which is never good when you're trying to do fine detail work. maybe i should take up yoga or something. nah.
anyway, that's the update from my corner of paradise. if you're ever here, hit me up. maybe we can tag something together before the next tropical storm rolls in. more local spots to check out if you're into that sort of thing.
You might also be interested in:
- https://votoris.com/post/cagayan-de-oro-cost-breakdown-what-a-freelance-photographer-actually-spends
- https://votoris.com/post/top-industries-driving-the-economy-of-ark
- https://votoris.com/post/crime-stats-in-paris-is-the-city-getting-safer-as-told-by-a-broke-student-who-still-loves-it
- https://votoris.com/post/crime-statistics-in-bridgeport-is-it-getting-safer
- https://votoris.com/post/the-best-coworking-spaces-and-wifi-cafes-in-hyderabad-city-with-survival-tips-for-touring-artists-who-hate-socks