Have you noticed a spaceman flying high above the new Coles car park since last Friday, or the girl reading a book on Dwyers Butchery’s wall in Clarinda Street?
The main street in Parkes has splashes of colour and a vibrant feel about it thanks to the Parkes Shire Council ‘s Public Art Program installed in the Central Business District (CBD).
Local artist Jac Clark was commissioned to provide the works following an expression of interest process. The first work, ‘Elvis’ was installed prior to the 2016 Elvis Festival and has been favourably received by locals and visitors.
“We have taken another step forward to bring the CBD to life,” said Parkes Shire Deputy Mayor Cr Barbara Newton at the launch of the program last Friday. “Our vision is to create a visible arts presence throughout the CBD and the town with a public art program that engages artists’ creative ideas to celebrate the values of Parkes – its history, primary culture and future aspirations – and define the Parkes CBD as a place where people want to be,” the Deputy Mayor added.
Jac said the concept behind the art works were that they could be changed and added onto to avoid them becoming stale. She thanked the Council for the opportunity to create the art works and said it was “such fun from the start to installation”.
The works installed reflect elements of Parkes’ character. They include an astronaut, a literacy themed work, a mural fronting Cooke Park and a community art wall featuring current and past ‘Waste 2 Art’ works. Take some time this weekend and stroll the streets to take in and enjoy the vibrant art our town has to offer.