Popular Barraba Street Art attracts attention

LAUNCH OF THE LATEST PUBLIC ART MURAL “BEDTIME STORY”

Yet another spectacular large mural was completed in Barraba last week. Located on the northern wall of the Barraba library, the colourful painting, measuring some six metres high and thirteen metres long, is the work of Blue Mountains artists Scott Nagy and Janne Birkner.

The mural opened on 14 February is the third major public art work in Barraba; certainly a major achievement in five years by the small group of dedicated volunteers who make up the Barraba Public Art Committee. This opening ceremony was chaired by one of the committee members Andy Wright; another member, Karen Bishton, spoke to the gathering about this mural, and the other works that preceded it.  The three works represent the essential themes in our community:

The silos speak about water, central to the life and the rural industry of our community;

The Alice St mural illustrates the beauty and diversity of our magnificent flora and fauna; and

“Bedtime Story”, freshly completed and featuring the rare Regent Honeyheater, shows something of our rich community life.

Tamworth Regional Councillor Judy Coates officially launched Barraba’s latest art work. Councillor Coates praised the vision and hard work of the Public Art Committee, and thanked Council staff and other volunteers and supporters from the community who had made it all possible. The opening of “Bedtime Story” was completed by the Librarian and a group of Barraba Preschoolers; they read some stories in the shadow of the mural.

Speaking later, Councillor Coates said she saw these murals as the beginning of a local Art Trail. In time, the trail could extend to other locations in the Tamworth Regional Council area, and even into the neighbouring areas of Bingara and Narrabri.  She hoped to work with the Council’s Art and Cultural committees and staff to extent the vision that started here in Barraba.

After the opening, I spoke to three of the Public Art Committee members present; Angie Croll, Andy Wright and Karen Bishton. They first of all wanted to acknowledge the substantial contribution that Rural Aid volunteers had made to the art projects. As part of a Town makeover project, sixty three Rural Aid Australia volunteers spent a week in Barraba in March 2021 tackling many projects. Two of their large projects were repairing, preparing and painting the two town walls where the artists were then able to work their magic.

Angie, Andy and Karen were very happy and pleased with the Barraba Art Trail so far. Perhaps a bit of a rest, then perhaps they might be looking at some other walls in town!

Congratulation to all for a great achievement.