Victorian Silo Art

meetoo · Guru

Victorian Silo Art

Joe50 · Guru

Thanks for pics John. I saw the Brim silos last year and a month ago was lucky to see Guido van Helten put the finishing touches to his work at Coonalpyn (attached pics). It was fascinating watching him - he'd look at what I assume is a diagram or sketch of what he's working on that he's holding in his left hand, then do a few swishes with the spray can, then repeat the process. I'm heading west so it'll be a while before I get to see the other two.

Cheers, Joe

-- Edited by Joe50 on Monday 17th of April 2017 01:08:02 AM

Lancelot Link · Senior Member

Did you know most of this sort of art is projected onto the wall and traced first? Benalla off the Wall was performed last weekend and most were done this way. I look it at as legalised graffiti in some instances, particularly when it is garbage, other than that it is nothing more than sign painting! You don't have to agree with me, it is just another form of expression for some one who couldn't be bothered laying on their back for a hell of time in a Chapel in Italy I have never been to! So thankyou Microsoft and windows for allowing our artists to continue their fine work in adaptive technology associated with fine art and masterpieces. I look forward to the next adventure.

Teo · Senior Member

If anyone is interested in how Guido does this work and you have access to ABC I view, Landline covered his silo work at Coonalpyn on their show that was broadcast on 25th March. Well worth a look. Started with his photos of school kids through to the finished work.
There are not a lot of good news stories around at present, but this was just great to see how this work lifted the spirit of this little S.A. town. Certainly not graffiti.

mezza56 · Senior Member

I have to agree with you lancey , partially , projecting signs on walls to enlarge them has been a part of the sign trade for many years .

However thats where it stops , it still takes a lot of artistic license to create a mural of this scale and to boot on a large curved surface .

Artists have been sketching outlines and painting them in whether it be on canvas or another medium forever.

I dont see it as legalised graffitti at all, it is far more interesting to look at visually than a bland boring concrete tower and gives a lot of travellers something to admire.

Which is what all artists aspire to do isn't it ?

Desert Dweller · Guru

A lot of ''one horse towns'' in Victoria's Mallee & Wimmera have this silo art planned for their town, purely to attract visitors. We like the towns as they are now, lovely & peaceful.

Daryl620 · Veteran Member

Desert Dweller wrote:
A lot of ''one horse towns'' in Victoria's Mallee & Wimmera have this silo art planned for their town, purely to attract visitors. We like the towns as they are now, lovely & peaceful.

Those ''one horse towns'' require more than just your patronage to survive, unless you prefer ghost towns.....

Desert Dweller · Guru

Daryl620 wrote:
Desert Dweller wrote:
A lot of ''one horse towns'' in Victoria's Mallee & Wimmera have this silo art planned for their town, purely to attract visitors. We like the towns as they are now, lovely & peaceful.
Those ''one horse towns'' require more than just your patronage to survive, unless you prefer ghost towns.....

We have family in quite few of these towns, they're unlikely to become ghost towns as they are in very prosperous & rich wheat country. A few nomads staring at a painted silo isn't going to put many dollars into the towns economies.

Farming is the mainstay of the Mallee & Wimmera.

For those that are interested in visiting the area: https://www.wimmeramalleetourism.com.au/

-- Edited by Desert Dweller on Monday 17th of April 2017 01:50:06 PM

Big Mal · Senior Member

Just got back from a run checking out the Victorian Silo's and contrary to the above the towns we stopped at were most appreciative of our dollars, thats possibly why most have free camps for people to stop at as a lot of others don't even have a shop nowadays and the most of the silo's aren't used as they moved to larger set up's away from the town and like the farms employ only a small number compared to years ago .............................................couldn't see any sign of an image projector during broad daylight when any painting was going on either.............

Desert Dweller · Guru

Here's a link to Victorian wheat storage facilities: www.graincorp.com.au/contact-secondary-groupings/014-victoria

A lot of towns in Victoria have some kind of trumped up tourist attraction & the compulsory ''Blues & Roots Festival''. Good on ém.

Desert Dweller · Guru

Here's a link to Victorian wheat storage facilities: www.graincorp.com.au/contact-secondary-groupings/014-victoria

A lot of towns in Victoria have some kind of trumped up tourist attraction & the compulsory ''Blues & Roots Festival''. Good on ém.

jbrinks · Senior Member

It does bring people to these towns as we are travelling to Brim then Patchewollock just to see them. We hadn't planned on this route until we heard of the artwork and looking forward to seeing them

Cruising Cruze · Guru

Wow magic stuff what them guys can do
I would drive the extra mile's to see that

Cheers John

mezza56 · Senior Member

Who do you think is paying for the artwork on the silos desert dweller , as far as I know its the communities themselves footing the bill.

Why dont you tell "them" that you like it just the way they are .

They wouldn't be spending the money just for themselves to look at them , would they ???

sandsmere · Guru

Pretty easy DD.

If you don't like one-horse towns with their trumped tourism ideas stay out in your desert.

Then everybody wins. smile

matildatraveller · Guru

Hellooooo John, Great visual effects on a normally boring old concrete silos! I have seen many examples of beautiful artwork on Wheat Silos, especially in the South of WA around Esperence. Would like to share a photo of 'Farm Art' I saw near Hopeton a small fishing village between Albany & Esperance in the West. Tell me what you think? Gwynnie Farm Art in WA.jpg

rockylizard · Guru

mezza56 wrote:
Who do you think is paying for the artwork on the silos desert dweller , as far as I know its the communities themselves footing the bill.

Gday...

http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/funding-for-trailblazing-silo-art-in-the-wimmera-mallee/

http://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/nash/releases/2016/September/fn067_2016.aspx

http://creative.vic.gov.au/news/2016/the-silo-art-trail-to-form-australias-largest-outdoor-gallery

Those still paying tax seem to be footing the bill.

Cheers - John

matildatraveller · Guru

Hi again John, your attachments will hopefully deter negativity about Governments spending money on rural projects that keeps the money flowing in the bush. As a new retiree (and an ex-rural dweller Mount Hope/Bourke regions) it fills my heart with song to see such imaginative initiatives uplifting the rural communities. BRAVO!! Recently I have just completed a 28,000km solo journey around this great country of ours in what I called 'The Great Australian Beach Crawl'. Now I am in the process of preparation to hit the road again this time traveling to inland Australia in my latest vehicle a 4WD Toyota Hilux. My moto is simple....."Don't put off tomorrow, what we are still capable of doing today!"

Matildatraveller Gwynnie.......

meetoo · Guru

Bravo Gwinnie.

Cheers, John.

Santa · Guru

rockylizard wrote:
mezza56 wrote:
Who do you think is paying for the artwork on the silos desert dweller , as far as I know its the communities themselves footing the bill.
Gday...
http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/funding-for-trailblazing-silo-art-in-the-wimmera-mallee/
http://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/nash/releases/2016/September/fn067_2016.aspx
http://creative.vic.gov.au/news/2016/the-silo-art-trail-to-form-australias-largest-outdoor-gallery
Those still paying tax seem to be footing the bill.
Cheers - John

Once again the tax payer foots the bill in order to satisfy the graffiti need these "creative" types have. confuse