The MTCG have brought significant public art works to the Mooroolbark shopping precinct since the inception of the Mooroolbark Street Art Project in 2019 and continue to apply for funding to add to the collection.
Through recent Victorian State Government funding, from the Living Local Fund – Suburban Grants, the MTCG have funding for three new public art installations. The first project “Blender Studio Youth Workshops and Mural” is complete, and our second project “Yerrin Biik‘ is now underway.
Yerrin Biik
Set to transform Mooroolbark Library is a monumental public artwork titled “Yerrin Biik,” which means “Bush Country” in the Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung language. This is a collaboration between Murrup Biik Public Art, an initiative of Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Kim Wandin and Christine Joy, and renowned street artist Jimmy Dvate. Yerrin Biik will encapsulate the rich history of Mooroolbark, celebrating its local flora and fauna, while honouring its Indigenous roots and the enduring spirit of its people.
“Aunty Kim chose to include her Great Uncle x 4, William Barak, to honour his journeys overthis land from Coranderrk to the city to advocate for his people.” Christine Joy from Murrup Biik Public Arts described why this project is important to the artists, “Aunty Kim and I loved the opportunity of working with D’vate because of his enormous talent and his passion for endangered species. …We want people to love and care for Wurundjeri Country. If we fall in love with Country we would never hurt it or take it for granted.”
The artwork will be wrapped around the Mooroolbark Library, nestled into the gardens of the surrounding Hookey Park.
Progress over the first week!
Blender Studio Youth Workshops and Mural
An exciting and well recieved art project is the collaboration between local youth and police who participated in Street Art Workshops run by Blender Studios. Students learned how to create basic street art, then discussed and came up with a concept for a mural to be installed on the Bakehouse Boss wall in Brice Ave. The final concept is fun, quirky, youth orientated, and will brighten up the grey access driveway.
“it has a whole bunch of things that we like and enjoy and it’s different, unique and it just makes me very happy to look at. I really like the mushroom idea in number 3 a lot because they are a common thing that people like now days. I also really enjoy the cat as it’s my favourite animal and I think it’s very cute and fun and it makes me happy to look at.
If I had to pick out of both designs I think I would pick number 3 because it’s unique and I like to see a whole lot of different things like a collage. It definitely shows everyone’s personality in the team.”
Upcoming Works
There ais one more piece planned for Mooroolbark, we’ll have information about this coming soon!