A new graffiti artwork is taking shape on a playground wall in Burg's Deichstraße, with artist Christian Grams working primarily at night to create his latest masterpiece. The project, financially supported by the LAGA Support Association and additional sponsors, represents the final phase of a community art initiative that began earlier this year.
The LAGA Support Association had called for the playground wall to be whitewashed in spring, as the previous graffiti had lost its color intensity and was no longer aesthetically pleasing. The plan was to create a new, colorful artwork with references to the city of Burg. Christian Grams was recruited for the project, having designed the graffiti and agreed to implement it free of charge during his spare time.
Community members of all ages participated in the initial whitewashing of the wall. Notable sponsors and helpers included Nordica Kühne, authorized representative of Volksbank Jerichower Land, SPD state parliament member Elrid Pasbrig, and entrepreneur Daniel Grünke, among others.
Before Grams began his planned artwork, children and teenagers were given the opportunity on May 21 to express their creativity on the white wall under the guidance of streetworker Gordon Bothur. What emerged was a colorful eye-catcher that drew attention from the community. However, this temporary artwork had to be removed on August 28, when the wall was whitewashed again to make way for Grams' final graffiti design.
Gordon Bothur helped with the second whitewashing with mixed feelings, as it meant the disappearance of the visible creativity of the children and teenagers. He expressed his wish that the city would provide a permanent space where such artwork could be created and remain on display indefinitely.
Since Monday, Christian Grams has been busy completing the new graffiti. Born in Burg and living in Braunschweig for 20 years, Grams is a freelance communications designer who teaches at Ostfalia University and the Braunschweig University of Art. He won the competition announced by the city of Burg with his design, which depicts Burg's three playgrounds.
When visited on Tuesday evening, the artist was working on site. "I prefer working in the darkness because I have peace and quiet," he explained when asked why he works at night. Using a projector, he projects the original design onto the wall to implement it as accurately as possible. "If the weather stays dry, I'll probably be finished next week," Grams said. "By then, I will have spent approximately 50 hours on the implementation."
It should be noted for completeness that Christian Grams is performing this work free of charge, donating his time and expertise to the community project. The new graffiti artwork promises to be a significant addition to Burg's public art landscape, showcasing the city's playgrounds while demonstrating the power of community collaboration in creating meaningful public art.
