Silo Art Trail hits Lascelles

Lascelles is poised to become the next Wimmera-mallee town to attract worldwide attention as part of Australia’s largest outdoor art gallery.

Acclaimed Melbourne street artist Tyrone ‘Rone’ Wright is rapidly transforming Lascelles’ two 30-metre-high Graincorp silos with images of a farm synonymous with the district.

The giant mural is the latest artwork in Yarriambiack Shire’s Silo Art Trail spanning more than 200 kilometres and already gaining international interest.

Renowned streetscape artists have already completed murals at Brim, Sheep Hills, Patchewollock and Rupanyup.

Lascelles is the fifth of six planned silo artworks. The last silo in the series will be at Rosebery, with an official trail launch planned for August.

Rone has work in permanent collections in the National Gallery of Australia and National Gallery of Victoria, and has distinctive murals commissioned in cities including London, Paris, New York, Havana, Port Vila, Taipei, Mexico City and Hong Kong.

In late 2016, Rone also transformed the crumbling interior of Fitzroy’s doomed Star Lyric Theatre for his solo exhibition Empty, drawing more than 14,000 visitors over 10 days.

He said he was excited to be part of the Silo Art Trail project ‘alongside such amazing artists’.

The Lascelles mural will depict Geoff and Merrilyn Horman, whose families have lived and farmed in the area for four generations.

Born in the district, the couple married at Lascelles in 1967 and with their two sons and extended families have continued the family traditions of wheat farming, hard work and strong community involvement.

“To really understand the essence of the place, I wanted to find people who had lived here all their lives and get a sense of what the town has been through over the years,” Rone said.

“With a population of just 48 people, I’ve been fortunate to have already met most of the town.

“After a lot of discussion with the locals, I found my subjects.”

The Hormans admitted they were shocked at first to be chosen as the subjects of such a public undertaking, but were happy to be involved after realising the project’s potential to generate income, tourism and optimism for their town.

“If it benefits the community then we’re happy,” Merrilyn Horman said.

Rone said he hoped people made the effort to travel the Silo Art Trail.

“Once they do, I’m sure they’ll see there is so much more to discover out here,” he said.

Other artists involved in the trail are Matt Adnate, Kaff-eine, Fintan Magee, Guido van Helten and Julia Volchkova.