MORE colour is being added to the streets of Mount Gambier with further artistic displays taking shape throughout the city.
Adding to the already vibrant art scene being created throughout the city, the piece has already caught the attention of passers-by.
The blank walls of James Street are being transformed by interstate artists into a nature scene as part of the Ripley Arcade Public Art Project.
Enhancing the cultural integrity and visual appeal of the heart of the city, Rythmicolour Collective – a multi-disciplined mural based arts group – is focusing on the finer details of the environment to create the piece.
“We are going for a natural element, a macro of a micro nature scene, with moths, a snail, tree branches, interpretive design elements running through it so it shows there is a fluidity and energy that are often overlooked in the environment,” artist EJ Zyla said.
Adding to the array of artworks stretching across the city, artist Benjamin Higgins, who has worked with the collective on various projects across Australia, said it is fantastic to see the community embracing art.
“We are really excited to be here and contribute to the artworks which are popping up around the place in Mount Gambier,” he said.
“We have had a look around the city at Metro and the railway lands at what else has been created, they are all really great.”
Beginning stage one of the project last week, the duo has dealt with temperamental weather conditions to transform the space.
Despite rain adding a challenge to the task, Ms Zyla said they still loved the experience.
“We had had nothing but positive feedback from the community, lots of people have stopped to chat to us about it,” she said.
“We are really happy to have been given this opportunity and everyone has been very supportive.”
Pleased with the progress made so far, Mount Gambier City Council culture and development officer Serena Wong said the artwork is a great addition to the city.
“We’re excited that we’re going to get a great public artwork in a prime spot out of this and that it might help people locally to start thinking about their creative practice in different realms,” she said.
In addition, Skunk Control, a team of Victoria University engineers and scientists who merge science and art, will be in Mount Gambier next month to conduct workshops with local schools to create three dimensional butterflies to be attached to the lamp posts on Percy Street.
They will work with students to create colour palettes for the butterfly wings which will incorporate transparent film so when the light hits them, it will be refracted, spilling colour onto the footpath.
Rythmicolour Collective will also be back later in May to complete stage two of the project, creating art further down the street.
