Home

Big reveal for mural festival

Shannon SmithAlbany Advertiser
Walldog and guest speaker Jay Allen. Right, Sgt Johnson painting.
Camera IconWalldog and guest speaker Jay Allen. Right, Sgt Johnson painting. Credit: Supplied

The spectacular public art creations for Mt Barker’s inaugural Mountains and Murals festival will be unveiled on Thursday.

Since the festival was announced in August by Mt Barker Sergeant David Johnson, the town has quickly got behind the vision for a public mural trail and festival.

Thursday’s opening will allow the community to see the creations for the first time and watch a 25-minute documentary film about the Walldogs Magical History Tour in the US.

The Walldogs are an international group of mural and sign artists.

Sgt Johnson, who has painted with the Walldogs in the US, said things were cranking up four weeks out from the four-day festival.

“Thomas Dimer, an Albany-based Aboriginal artist, was able to have a Skype chat with project leader Jay Allen in the US on Wednesday to discuss the amazing collaboration of their mural,” he said.

“Both artists were excited to finally meet and discuss their designs and how they merge into one to create a stunning mural, combining traditional Aboriginal art with contemporary mural and sign painting.”

Sgt Johnson brought his vision to the Great Southern from the US, where he has taken part in the annual Walldogs mural festival.

Some of the Walldogs will be making their way Down Under for the event.

The festival will include a food and wine fair, and a long table dinner featuring celebrity chef Scott Brannigan and Walldogs’ Jay Allen as guest speaker.

“The food and wine fair will be a huge event with in excess of 25 market stalls complementing the giant marquee that will be erected on the forecourt of the Shire of Plantagenet office building,” Sgt Johnson said.

The mural unveiling will start at 7pm on Thursday at the Mt Barker Community Resource Centre.

The Mountains to Murals festival will run from Friday, December 6 until Tuesday, December 10.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails