Over October 14-16 Postbahnhof reeked of spray paint. Within a can throw of the East Side gallery it seemed like the right place for an Urban Artfair from the outside. Large mini-walls had been haphazardly placed in the courtyard with artists working and punters checking it out. Through the haze of multicoloured chemical, I followed the crowd and found my way finally into the main exhibition hall.
The event should be exciting, with literally a whole building crammed of terribly creative people. A hive of activity, it felt there were two main type of people there: those actively engaging in urban art, and those interested in it but without the skills/time/talent to do it. Stroke was smaller than anticipated and the ambiance was a cross between a trade fair and a skate park, forced inside because of a rainy day.
The ground floor inside sported a DIY area, design your own t-shirt and make a mix tape necklace, which was positively jostling. But not too much on the lower level was. This may have also been due to my ill timed wander through on the Saturday, mid afternoon. The top level felt a lot like a shopping centre pop up gallery. There were some stands that did 'it' well and Zozoville was a good example. I had to stand on the fringes for a few minutes just to ask the artists or a few photos. 'A platform for freaks, misfits, and the occasional well balanced individual', their space was a living room, a mix of vintage curios and their signature monster work. They were also busy selling prints faster than the delicious looking cup cakes downstairs.
For me Stroke was a fun hour. The style and format of the event, with live art out the front did not create the sort of excitement expected at an urban art event. With a tagline like 'unconventional and uncompromising art experience' I had hoped for more of that; experience. What was successful was the DIY space, the courtyard area and the stands that did more than just exhibit. That said the outlook is good: the partnerships, the press coverage and the obvious energy and support for the event phenomenal. I will still be lining up for the next one and hoping that experience will prevail!
www.stroke-artfair.com
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