‘Controversial’ Heirloom Speciality Coffee street art wall mural finished, praised in Mosman

SOME Mosmanites thought a cafe’s incomplete wall mural was “graffiti”, while one feared the suburb was becoming “bogan central”, but now the Heirloom Speciality Coffee wall is complete and loved.

Visual artist Joe Quilter and cafe owner Marcel Ghabbar next to Quilter’s completed Heirloom Specialty Coffee wall mural in Mosman. Picture: Troy Snook

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IT was the Mosman mural which brewed a storm in a coffee cup, but now it’s complete it’s here to stay.

The Mosman Daily reported in late May that an incomplete wall mural on the cafe then known as Heirloom Espresso had raised the ire of some residents.

Residents wondered when Mosman Council was going to remove the “graffiti”, while one feared the suburb was turning into “bogan central”.

Councillor Simon Menzies likened the mural to “amalgamating with Newtown” and called for an approvals process to be followed.

Undeterred, cafe owner Marcel Ghabbar and visual artist Joe Quilter postponed work on the wall mural while they sought approval from the council.

The wall mural of Heirloom Specialty Coffee in Mosman. Picture: Troy Snook

But it turned out the proposed design did not require further approvals and Quilter finished the mural this month.

Mr Ghabbar, who has renamed his cafe Heirloom Specialty Coffee, thanked the many people who supported the mural being completed.

“I think people really just showed a lot of support when we were given a bit of a hard time over it,” he said.

“The community got behind us, so I just wanted to thank them for doing it.”

Mr Ghabbar said many people were positive about the finished work.

“It’s done properly for starters by a professional artist — Joe Quilter — and it’s aesthetically pleasing with a nice colour scheme,” he said.

“And it’s about coffee which is what we’re all about, so I think it represents us appropriately.

“Coffee is our thing, so I wanted to get that across as beautifully as I could.”

Visual artist Joe Quilter in front of one of his murals in Newtown. Picture: Craig Wilson

Quilter — a former North Sydney schoolboy and Bears basketballer — said most people had been positive about the mural.

“I don’t think there was a negative reaction to my work; Mosman in general made it overwhelmingly clear that the piece is supported,” he said.

“Rather, the minority who did reacted negatively simply made the most noise in the first instance.

“This was promptly silenced by a response from the majority that was positive.

“I hope people enjoy the mural and I’m grateful for both the people of Mosman’s support and Mosman Council’s professionalism and sincerity in communicating with myself and Marcel.”

Cr Simon Menzies in front of the mural when it was incomplete.

Cr Menzies said the completed work did not necessarily “speak to him”, but many people had told him they “loved it” and wanted to see similar works popping up across the neighbourhood.

“Those seeking to do a mural should first get the approval which will save time in the long run,” he said.

Quilter, a Macquarie University PhD student in the applied ethics of graffiti and street art, called the “bogan central” comment classist and derogatory.

“Associating the arts with such categorising of one’s fellow humans, in addition to demonstrating a lack of decency and compassion towards others, demonstrates a lack of knowledge about the arts,” he said.

“So in the end, whoever said that is someone to be pitied because they are clearly brimming with delusional self-righteousness.

“I think both the lower north shore and the inner west have plenty to offer and could learn from one another.”

Newtown’s Lennox St carpark terrace house mural, called “The Promise”. Picture: Nick Eagar

Quilter said many people had wished him well while he was working on the mural.

“When I started and as I have been working on it, somewhere between 25 to 35 people have stopped to commend the work and at least 10 cars while driving past have given me a thumbs-up or shouted out praise,” he said.

“There have only been positive responses to the piece beyond Mosman boundaries.”

Quilter enjoyed working on the mural.

“This is my job so I have simply kept it practical the whole time,” he said.

“When you work in a public setting you need to be able to carry on without being distracted by positive or negative perceptions from others, while the whole time maintaining your fundamental respect for others.

“The whole experience has been great; the main thing I learnt from this is that there are heaps of people in Mosman who like murals and the coffee and shredder bowls at Heirloom are awesome.

“I also met a bunch of excellent folks so that was a bonus.”

The wall mural of Heirloom Specialty Coffee in Mosman. Picture: Troy Snook

The awesome street art of Sydney’s inner west

Mr Ghabbar said the mural might be added to one day.

“Obviously we will see what the council thinks of that, but maybe in the future,” he said.

The council’s spokeswoman said planning staff reviewed the proposed final mural design and it was considered to be a development which did not require additional approvals.

“It is recommended that prior to any works, activities or use being carried out, land owners obtain advice from the council prior to works being undertaken,” the spokeswoman said.

Visit joeangert-quilter.squarespace.com to see Quilter’s work.

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