A new river-themed street art mural on the flood levee wall near the Lismore Skate Park has the Northern Rivers Science Hub in awe of talented Back Alley Gallery artists, Jeremy Austin and Justin Livingston.
The colourful work features swirling water and fish at one end, with a robotic torso and palm fronds at the other, meeting at a tree in the middle.
The artists began the mural during the inaugural Arts vs Science Festival on 24 August as part of a workshop with the Catchment Activity Model to demonstrate the impacts of our behaviour and land management on the Wilsons and Richmond rivers.
Bunnings and Lismore City Council donated money for spray paint, which was a low-toxic, sugar-based paint in keeping with the Arts vs Science Festival’s sustainability theme.
‘We loved having the opportunity to do this and hope we can work with the Northern Rivers Science Hub on future events,’ Justin said.
Council’s environmental strategies officer Vanessa Tallon said the work was a fantastic example of how art and science can combine harmoniously.
‘This has an educational message and is a tool to impart knowledge, yet at the same time it is a beautiful, stand-alone artwork that improves the look of the plain levee wall, building on our reputation as a city that embraces colourful street art,’ Vanessa said.
‘This work is a permanent mural and we hope the community will respect it for the long term. We’d like to continue this type of partnership with Back Alley Gallery street artists into the future. It would be great to fill some of the blank walls and spaces in our city with art that encourages us all to take care of our environment and showcases the amazing artistic talent of young people in Lismore.’
