‘A Portrait of Pally II’
Cleopatra St / Adrian St, Palmyra WA
- February 2020
The second in a series of two sump-fence murals for the City of Melville, showcasing the simple and intimate features of the Palmyra neighbourhood.
This project was specifically built to engage the community in a meaningful way throughout the research, design and install stages. Mono-print and collage workshops were held at the local farmers market, the local library and the local primary school, using natural materials found in the neighbourhood.
The experimental works created by the community during these sessions told a story of the area - what grows there, visiting birds, the patterns that become familiar when you live in that place, the objects we are drawn to pick up and brush, break, arrange and smell when we are passing through or staying to play a while.
The outcomes of these workshops directly informed the mural design. Motifs and compositions from the prints and collages were illustrated and arranged into a loose flowing pattern across the length of the fence.
Community members then joined in across two days of collaborative painting to install the piece they’d helped create.
Collage and mono-print are both great activities for all ages and abilities as there is little artistic confidence or experience required. The materials are tactile, the process promotes collaboration and conversation, as well as aiding the development of fine motor control and mindfulness. This also meant participants were able to take home an artwork on the day, while I was able to document and then directly translate their ideas onto the wall.
This formula can be applied in any neighbourhood, anywhere - so get in touch if you’d like to offer this style of community-focused project in your local community.
