New street art transforms laneway connecting Cultural Centre to Katoomba street

The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre has commissioned five street artists to paint new murals in Froma Lane, transforming it into a corridor of colour and art and connecting Katoomba Street with the Cultural Centre steps.

Visitors to the laneway can see the works of Nastia Gladushchenko, Jodee Knowles, Man.De (Mandy Schöne-Salter) Claire Nakasawa and Sama Cooper. The artists were asked to reference themes of flight, movement and nature. The artists join Maria Harding who adorned the Cultural Centre steps with an image of a female Bower Bird in flight earlier this year.

Up-and-coming artist Sama Cooper painted one of Australia’s best rock climbers, local Andrea Hah. Sama said the work “highlights the representation and recognition of the beloved natural environment and the connections it has to the people, especially women, in our local community.”

“It has been a beautiful subject for my mural in Froma Lane and the opportunity to make my work freely available to the wider public of Katoomba has been a great one,” she said. 

Nastia Gladushchenko, who also has a work in the popular Street Art Walk, titled her creation Where the flowers go (2020).

“This piece in Froma Lane is dedicated to all the delicious Spring blooms that pop up every day and surprise us. The movement and change within nature means flowers are wonderful but temporal things and I wanted this work to capture them in a more permanent way here”, Gladushchenko said.

The artists were commissioned as part of Wollemi Weekend, a series of events that included Gallery Gigs and artist talks, funded by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission.

“This project has been a great success in turning a bland laneway into an inviting thoroughfare, drawing people from Katoomba Street to the Cultural Centre. It’s great to give our talented local artists an opportunity to show their work in such a public space”, said Paul Brinkman, Manager of Arts & Cultural Services at BMCC.

A series of artist interviews have been developed with KFM media offering behind the scenes footage of the artists working and discussing the role of street art in revitalising urban spaces and cultivating a unique sense of place for the community. The interviews can all be viewed on the Cultural Centre’s Virtual InSight page at http://bluemountainsculturalcentre.com.au/virtualinsight, along with streams of the Gallery Gigs featuring local musicians, The River Li, Piccolo Bear and Dee.

Those interested in learning more about the street art of Katoomba can join Nastia Gladushchenko for a tour on Sunday 22 November, 11am or 1pm. Tickets are $8 or $5 for InSight Members.

Click here to get your tickets now https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/katoomba-street-art-tour-tickets-126348237981.