Perth Voice Interactive

THE Crea family has lived on Vincent Street for almost 50 years and is happy to see new public art on their street.

Rosaria and Pasquale moved into their house in 1964.

Originally from Italy, Mr Crea came to Australia first to find work on the railroad, and a few years later brought his wife out.

They’ve seen a lot of changes to the street in their time, and remember when there was only one shop within walking distance on Beaufort Street, a far cry from the retail strip that exists today.

The newest change to the street: A naked bronze sculpture titled Dog and Rabbit on a Bike on the corner of Beaufort Street by NSW artists Gillie and Marc, unveiled last Wednesday.

The nudey animals were drawing a lot of comments when the Voice dropped by on Friday, with many passers-by stopping for photos with the exposed anthropomorphs.

Mrs Crea blushed when she first saw them but then said the nude statues were just “like in Italy”.

Do they need clothes? we asked. “Nooo!” she laughed.

Nearby business owner Payam Golestani was less certain. The Priority 1 real estate director recalled that when he was a kid he liked to climb on statues but he would think twice before letting children sit anywhere near the dog’s lipstick. He’s previously been critical of council spends on art, when he says there are other priorities like bus stop seats.

“I like it, I just don’t think it should be nude,” colleague Jennifer Noyes says. “It needs some jocks or boxer shorts on!”

Mount Lawley Liberal MP Michael Sutherland wandered south from his domain to have a peek and said it was an “interesting and engaging” piece. He wants Stirling city council to continue the street art up its end of Beaufort Street.

“My only fear is that it will be vandalised due to the way it has been fixed to the pavement,” he says, referring to narrow fixtures into bricks.

“There have been some wanton acts of vandalism to other pieces in the area recently.”

While Mr Sutherland fears the sculpture might go walkabout, the Creas say they’re on the street to stay. Real estate agents often drop by offering free quotes and urging them to sell, but Mrs Crea says with her church just across the road and all the shops she needs within walking distance, she’ll never sell.

by DAVID BELL and STEPHEN POLLOCK