Typical Days

Debra soon settled into the rhythm of University life.

Days would start at some time in the morning with a random breakfast dish, cereal maybe, possibly waffles, or there might be left-over hot-dog!

After a leisurely breakfast, she would try to find some time to review or prepare for the day's classes or assignments before rushing off to the Arts Building.


The week consisted of a mix of lectures and classroom seminars which were surprisingly informative and helpful.  Although Debra's medium was 'street art' and her central focus on social issues she, nonetheless, found that understanding the history of art and exploring the various traditions could inform her own creativity.

Even so, Debra got most excited when they had an outside assignment where the class was encouraged to create a work in their own style about a particular scene around the university.

Outside of the tutor led work there were also individual assignments, some of which Debra found a little uncomfortable - such as creating a stranger portrait.

She didn't feel very confident about just going up to someone and asking them to model.  Thankfully her new friend, Cid, was more than happy to pose for her.


Although generally confident in her work Debra was shy about presenting portraits, especially to the subject.  Cid, though, always said her loved her view of him; that she had a good 'impressionistic' eye.

However, the 'real thing' for Debra was her street art and luckily there were plenty of good places around the university where she could exercise her talents.  She loved those days where she could just head off into town, find a clean, clear, space and create something entirely her own.

At night many students would set off in large groups to party somewhere loud and full of people having a wild time.  That wasn't really Debra's style. She loved spending time with like-minded people, but always in smaller, more intimate, groups.

Perhaps chilling out with friends from her course, with a few drinks and a game of billiards.

Or sometimes putting the world to rights with other activists from one of the several campaigning groups she had joined. 

Of all the people she met, of all those she enjoyed spending time with, there was one that Debra couldn't be with and missed so much; her boyfriend from Hidden Springs, Johnny Christiansen.

They would call every other day, to share all the things that were happening in their lives.

There was, however, one event that Debra had not shared with Johnny ...

She had gone out early one evening and finding a great space at the back of one of the coffee shops started work on another mural.

She had just finished the base sketch when she heard the sound of a police siren stop as a nearby car pulled up sharply and then someone running towards her.

Without looking back she quickly darted round the corner and ducked into the coffee shop. But even before the door behind her had closed she heard a commanding voice, "Miss. Stop right there! Don't make this any worse."

Charged with defacing public property, Debra was handed a mandatory fine, a fine that would take a good chunk out of her student fund.

But after completing all the required paperwork the police officer surprised her. "Look, Ms. Slade, we take vandalism very seriously here, and I hope I'll not have to take you in again.  But the university board does have a street art scheme that supports good artists, so if you have a word with the administration and convince them that you know what you're doing they may give you a licence and possibly even a small grant to paint in certain locations. At least that way you won't get into trouble with us."

She wasn't sure that getting a licence from the university establishment was really the 'activist' thing to do but if it meant being free to create her art without getting expelled, or a criminal record, it was certainly worth thinking about...