SYP Water Tower/Tank Mural Trail mentees selected

Four local artists have won the opportunity to be mentored by renowned large-scale mural artists as part of the expansion of the SYP Water Tower/Tank Mural Trail.

Jason Swales, of Marion Bay, and Rachelle Plazeriano, The Pines, will each spend one week painting the murals under the guidance of the lead artists and their supporting artists.

Jason will work with Mike Makatron at Minlacowie’s water tank, which can be seen when travelling between Minlaton and Yorketown, and Rachelle will work with Sam Brooks at Wool Bay’s water tank and associated shed, near the town golf course.

Two local teenagers who also expressed an interest during the mentorship expression of interest period, Gary Nowlan of Marion Bay and Sabine Meyer, Yorketown, have been chosen as junior mentees.

“There is so much talent and creativity down in Yorke Peninsula, and given this opportunity to work on a large scale painting is an incredible opportunity to prepare local artists for a future in the arts” Sam Brooks said.

They will each spend at least one day contributing to the projects and learning valuable skills.

“Initially Council was only going to offer two mentorships to established local artists to help boost their careers; however, the lead artists were extremely impressed with Gary and Sabine so decided to offer them junior mentorships,” Mayor Darren Braund said.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for all of these artists to gain invaluable experience with highly credentialed artists working on large-scale public murals.

“They will learn and refine the skills needed to project manage and deliver on major public art which will look fantastic on their resumes.”

The Minlacowie and Wool Bay – Southern Yorke Peninsula Water Tower/Tank Mural extension project was made possible through $130,000 funding from the Australian Government through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.

SA Water, which has recently approved the final designs for the two murals as the owner of the infrastructure, is contributing $20,000 toward the project.

Mike Makatron’s artwork at Minlacowie – a huge tank between Minlaton and Yorketown – will include local scenery that relates to Yorke Peninsula Council’s slogan of ‘agriculturally rich, naturally beautiful’ with prominent nods to Narungga culture.

Sam Brooks’ Wool Bay painting will include separate but connected murals on the site’s shed and tank, tying the town and surrounding region’s history to its present day.

The artists plan to work on the murals later this month.