International Doodlebug Day - now in its 7th year - celebrates the underground cult of street art.
 | | The Cornerhouse entrance comes alive! |
Under the rallying cry of 'Viva la Muralist!', organisers in Manchester, London and Barcelona give recognition to the artists who prefer the marker pen and spray can to the palette. Cornerhouse, ever the champion of the artworld underdog, is launching Doodlebug in Manchester and is offering its walls and floors to the doodlers. Arriving at the arthouse cinema, I found doodlers scrawling over the columns of the Oxford Rd entrance. Inside, I found another doodler drawing on the walls of the Cornerhouse bar – an act which in normal circumstances would get her barred.
 | | 'Fantastic!' - artist Adele Prince |
Adele Prince studied interactive art at MMU, lived here for 9 years, and returned to Manchester for Doodlebug. She says her role, as an artist, is to point things out to people – and the festival is helping her to do just that. 'I think it’s fantastic! Every year it seems to get bigger and better and they get some really amazing spaces where they let people have a free rein and draw all over the walls.' 'It really brings a place alive I think,' she said. 'For instance, the entrance to Cornerhouse, you just don’t notice it. You might walk through it every day and you don’t notice it. And it’s actually quite a beautiful entrance. And when someone draws attention to it by drawing on it, it’s really amazing! It changes your perception of the spaces.'
 | | Doodles with your noodles |
Over in Albert Square, Japanese Manga artist Baku is also drawing on the walls and windows of the noodle bar Tampopo. Baku has had Manga artwork printed on football tickets in Japan but this is a new thing for him. 'I’ve drawn before in a disco where lots of young people come, but I haven’t drawn in a restaurant where family and young people come. I think it’s good!' Baku was so keen to doodle on the walls of Tampopo, he paid for his own ticket from Sapporo in Japan. And for two days, he took up residence in Tampopo, drawing solidly 10am til 11pm. So how long can you enjoy doodles with your noodles? Well, Baku may have gone but his art will stay on the walls of Tampopo for a month before it's painted over. Doodle art has a short life. Enjoy while it lasts. International Doodlebug Day is Saturday 4 September. | 
