Barraba's mosaic street art nears completion

A Vision Becomes Reality

What started as a vision is now becoming a Visual Mosaic Artistic Feature on Queen Street, Barraba. The planter pots are coming to life with the installation of beautifully crafted 20x20cm mosaic tiles. Titled: Village Art Collective - “Country Life”.

Arlene Weekes, Barraba’s resident mosaic resource person had an idea roughly 5 years ago to beautify the planter pots on the main street, to help attract visitors to town and to stimulate the Barraba economy. Unfortunately, Covid and family health issues intervened, but eventually a Mosaic Art Group and Committee were formed and it has all progressed from there.

There are a total of 21 planter pots with 12 tiles on each one. The planters closest to the Memorial Clock have pictures of poppies, a fitting tribute to the remembrance of our Service Men and Women.

The remainder of the planters consist of various country themes, flora and fauna pictures. The tiles have been created by an all-volunteer team of very enthusiastic people who have been meeting each weekend since September 2024. This group has a regular cohort of 8 to10 people, with visitors also attending from time to time, recently having 3 people from Japan attend, who were visiting relatives in Barraba.

 Hundreds of volunteered hours have already been donated to this project, from cutting, pattern drawing, grouting and sealing tiles to cleaning and sanding pots prior to the tiles being adhered to each side, with construction adhesive. The final stage - repainting of the planter pots has now commenced and the goal is for the project to be completed by October this year, adding another artistic attraction to Barraba’s growing reputation as becoming the “Arts Hub of the Region”.

Arlene said that “It isn’t work, it is pleasure. The group members company has been amazing and it is all about having fun and meeting new people. We sing, laugh and talk while we work! It has broken down social isolation for some of the group members and has helped to improve emotional disorders for others”. She hopes that once the Village Art Collective - “Country Life” project has been completed, “The mosaic group will continue to prosper and become a social craft group, which will support the broader Barraba community.”

Arlene would like to thank the Mosaic Art Group Members, Bruce Weekes, Glen Bennett, Tamworth Regional Council for a donation of $5,000 from the Annual Donations Program, Barraba Council Staff, BCI Committee and Community Members who have donated tiles and equipment, ensuring the successful completion of her vision.

We look forward to viewing the completed project.

If you would like to join the mosaic group, activity days are posted on the:

Barraba Notice Boards Sales and Information face book page.

(Article by Patti Crowley. Photos curtesy Arlene Weekes   and Patti Crowley)