Splash of colour lifts city
Up-and-coming artists Freya and Lani Jones are helping to bring Horsham streets to life as part of a series of art projects across the rural city.
Horsham Rural City Council and Powecor selected the girls’ art to be displayed on an electricity box on the corner Pynsent and Firebrace streets.
The two young artists were successful in pitching their concept through an expression of interest process to the council’s public art advisory committee in early July.
Lani, 15, and Freya, 12, are daughters of well-known Natimuk artist Dave Jones.
Lani said the piece, which features flora and fauna from the region, was inspired by Wimmera author Steffen Schultz’s book about native flowers called Gariwerd Colours.
“Gariwerd Colours gave us the inspiration for the flowers you can see on the box,” Lani said.
“Lots of people passing by have stopped to comment and praise our work, which inspired us to keep going.
“We find it exciting to think our paintings will be admired by the people of Horsham for years to come.” Freya said the project would take about a week.
“We have done a base coat and black coat, which has been a day each. We’re doing one side per day,” she said.
Horsham council arts development officer Jillian Pearce said the council project aimed to scout out talented residents to help ‘activate and beautify’ the city’s public spaces.
“The public art advisory committee wanted to generate some energy around town during COVID-19,” she said.
“Mural art activates spaces and provides unexpected moments of engagement. It redefines how we relate to the world we inhabit every day.”
Ms Pearce said she hoped Lani and Freya’s work would inspire other artists to take part in the project.
“I love what these girls are doing. This project is an opportunity to really bring out the talent of our next generation of artists,” she said.
“They’re actually being engaged in a professional capacity. It’s an amazing opportunity for them and inspiration for other young people to not underestimate their talent.”