Creation of Candy Royalle Mural at Addison Rd

It has been 6 years since the powerful high priestess of poetry Candy Royalle died. Her legacy of written and spoken word lives on. The Lebanese-Palestinian leader of community shared her soul, wisdom, vulnerability and hope with the world with such devotion she changed lives and is still changing lives today.

More than many have uttered the words 'What would Candy be saying now? What would she be doing at this time?'

She'd be rallying, she would be raging and she would be loving even harder and brighter. She would be creating sacred gathering spaces. She would be turning love into a circle and she would be asking us to occupy truth.

The beloved leaders at Addison Rd Community centre, a fixture of gathering and resistance have made it possible for us to adorn one of their walls with a mural of Candy Royalle.

This famous mural by the powerful artist Saffaa exists upstairs at The Red Rattler and spent time erected at The Hub in Newtown. The mural also exists on the wall at Pony Club Gym in Naarm. We feel a public mural at Addi Rd would create a powerful site for connection and camaraderie. A place to be reminded of the power of poetry and people.

We are raising funds to get the mural up at Addi Rd. The funds will pay for the artist fee, materials and costs involved in creation. We are also planning to create an unveiling event, where we can gather together to celebrate Candy, her poetry and provide communal restoration space for ongoing action and care for the intifada.

Any donation is greatly appreciated.

In the words of our sister,

There is only one law and that one law is love.

In love,

Friends of Candy.