MEDIA RELEASE Wednesday 13 August 2009
FESTIVAL CAIRNS MERCHANDISE MAKES FUNKY, FUNDRAISING STATEMENT!
PHOTO CALL: WEDNESDAY 12 AUGUST AT 2 PM
MOFO, 70 MCLEOD STREET, CAIRNS
Funky, festive and fundraising…..t-shirts and slouch bags incorporating the designs of local artists Sam Tupou and Malachi Aird of MOFO (Merchants of Fine Objects) Cairns will be unveiled (worn by artists, kids and festival organiser) as the official merchandise for Festival Cairns 2009.
The range, featuring two designs of t-shirts for adults and kids and one slouch bag big enough to hold festival goers paraphernalia is now on sale at Ticket Link, Festival Cairns office in City Place and MOFO Cairns, 70 McLeod Street, Cairns.
According to Festival Cairns event coordinator, Belinda Griffin, the t-shirts are not just about conveying the spirit of Festival Cairns, but also raising money for a worthy cause.
“One of our t-shirt designs features a Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo (nicknamed “Mabi” as that is the local Aboriginal name for them) that’s endemic only to our region. Developed especially to draw attention to the plight of this threatened species, a percentage of all t-shirt sales will benefit this cause and we are planning a special presentation of these proceeds to the Tree Kangaroo & Mammal Group, Monday 7 September, to mark Cairns Regional Council’s contribution to National Threatened Species Day and the good work of groups such as this,” said Mrs Griffin.
Local artist, Sam Tupou founded boutique screen printing company, MOFO in 2007. He is well known for his pop-art inspired Perspex and colourful artworks. He is also a founding member of popular art co-operative, The Upholstery.
Tupou launched his own line of t-shirts under the Humbug label in the early nineties.
According to Tupou, he uses Tapa patterns inspired by his Pacific Island heritage (New Zealand born with Tongan father).
Originally from Wallaroo, near Adelaide, Malachi Aird has travelled the world as a chalk-artist, reproducing renaissance master paintings before settling in Cairns.
While nowadays he is putting his creativity to good use at MOFO, he also likes to paint using acrylics or to make digital computer sketchings. He is also the collector of boys toys or rather, figures and figurines from fantasy and boys own adventures.
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For more info on the Tree Kangaroo & Mammal Group – see www.tree-kangaroo.net
As event manager of Festival Cairns 2009, Cairns Regional Council gratefully acknowledges the support of major sponsors Arts Queensland, Queensland State Government, Ergon Energy and Pacific Toyota.
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For more information:
Belinda Griffin, Festival Cairns Coordinator
T: 07 4044 3593 M: 0407 966 530 E: festival@cairns.qld.gov.au
Issued by:
Pip Miller PR
T: 07 4032 4400 M: 0419 681543 E: pip@pipmillerpr.com.au
www.pipmillerpr.com.au