Peter and Josie, residents of Merindah Lodge are thrilled to see the progress of the mural and love getting out in the sun with artist Jess to have a chat!
The collaborative art project sees the co-design and co-delivery of a 15 meter mural on the Aged Care development hoarding in which surrounds the construction site and will find its permanent place in the gardens and gathering spaces, dotted throughout the external design of the $40-million-dollar Aged Care facility.
Jess Fowler is an internationally collected visual artist from Glenormiston, South West Victoria, who specialises in bright bold abstracts of Australian native flora and fauna, and loves to create artworks that are beautiful, unique and that above all make people smile. Jess has been painting and exhibiting her work for over 20 years, finding such joy in sharing her creations with both her local community and the world.
Inspired by the essence of Camperdown, students explored the town during their class time and translated their ideas on to paper. The mural will showcase iconic local landmarks and feature a tribute to the Corangamite dry-stone walls that connect Camperdown to neighbouring towns as well as native flora and fauna, aligning with the overarching theme of the facilities internal design. The local students are contributing to delivery of the mural each Thursday until complete, employing a colour-by-number approach.
“I was thrilled to be asked to collaborate on this amazing project with Camperdown college students, and I am so excited to create a beautiful artwork for the Merindah Lodge residents to enjoy during the construction of their new home” says the Glenormiston artist.
The spirited residents of Merindah Lodge have truly embraced the project with enthusiasm. What began as a meet and greet and draft design review has blossomed into an integral part of their daily routine. Now it’s not uncommon to find them buzzing with excitement as they make their way to the worksite, eager to engage in conversations with the talented artist and exchange heart-warming tales about the vibrant scenes unfolding before them. The residential and staff group has been bestowed with a truly special responsibility – the honour of naming one of the iconic animals destined to grace the mural.
The external areas of the facility, which in time will house the repurposed safety hoarding will feature amenities such as a rehabilitation gym, communal BBQ areas, a grow-and-eat harvest garden and more.
South West artist Jessica Fowler, sits with pride before her recently complete mural at the Terang Visitor’s Centre.
It’s all hands on deck as Camperdown College’s year 10 Art class join forces with artist Jess Fowler to dive into the delivery phase of the mural.