Street art mural brightens Bentley Park

Published: 07 May 2021. (Note: information was correct at date of publication but may have since been changed or superseded.)

Young artists are making their mark on their suburbs, adding street art murals to concrete walls, amenity blocks and underpass tunnels throughout Cairns.

The Sinclair Miller Bridge underpass at Bentley Park is the latest site to be given the Youth Urban Art Project treatment.

Students from Bentley Park College and Holy Spirit College have been working with artist and teacher Sharon Wedel this week to add creatures, patterns and colours to the underpass.

Division 2 Councillor Rob Pyne said the young artists were gaining skills through the Council-funded project as well as giving a gift to the community.

“The young people involved in this Urban Art Project have created something that can be enjoyed by the whole community. It is creating a real sense of pride in their place,” Cr Pyne said.

“These murals are a way to celebrate the artistic talents and contribution of local young people.”

Ms Wedel said she had developed sketches by the school students into a mural design. The young artists are also learning new painting and design techniques.

“We work with the children to incorporate what they love about the area, whether that be physical features, friendships or feelings… this is what we use to create the mural design.” said Ms Wedel, who has also worked with students at two additional sites in Smithfield and Brinsmead on murals this year.

“This mural directly relates to Bentley Park and the environment near the underpass – we have this beautiful little creek that runs out into the ocean and out to the Great Barrier Reef.

“On one side we have all the creatures that live and around the river. Within each of the animals I have separated them into sections and patterned each section to represent the diversity that we have within Bentley Park and how everyone gets to retain their individual and still be part of something big and beautiful.”

The underpass is the 14th addition to the Youth Urban Arts Project, which has enabled young artists to learn new skills and beautify public spaces in 13 suburbs from Babinda to Manoora to Smithfield to Trinity Beach.

The four new sites to be completed this financial year are: