General News
6 February, 2020
Jimmi Buscombe mural now under way on Lismore's water tower
TWO enormous brolgas dancing in the morning mist are set to welcome people to Lismore, with work on a giant mural getting under way on the town’s water tower this week.
TWO enormous brolgas dancing in the morning mist are set to welcome people to Lismore, with work on a giant mural getting under way on the town’s water tower this week.
Regionally acclaimed artist Jimmi Buscombe, known for his image of ‘Gutsy the Wombat’ in Warrnambool, finished preparation works on the tower midweek and is now busy applying the final design.
“I’ve always had painting a silo or tower on my radar of things to do so I threw my hat in the ring for this one,” he said.
“I was short-listed from about 30 artists and, after pitching our ideas to a selection panel, I got a phone call to say I had been chosen.
“I was pretty surprised and really excited.”
Mr Buscombe said he was “notoriously scared of heights”, which added another challenge for him with the tower project.
“As you can imagine there are all sorts of legal requirements you have to meet to work at such heights, and I was more than happy to complete them in the interests of safety,” he said.
“It will be worth it though, people will be able to see the brolgas as they come along the Hamilton Highway into Lismore.
“Not everyone goes to visit galleries, so this is a great way to bring art out into the public for everyone to enjoy.”
The artwork is also hoped to entice people to stop in Lismore and has already been included on the Australian Silo Art Trail Facebook site; which has about 150,000 followers.
“Hopefully the tower will be a real boost for Lismore and bring people to the town,” Mr Buscombe said.
“It’s located at the entrance to the town’s golf club which also has the Fairway Coffee and Eatery cafe, which means people can come here and have something to eat while they enjoy the art – it will be the perfect stop for people on long journeys.”
With a GoPro camera filming the mural’s progress, people can view the work as it develops on Mr Buscombe’s Facebook page and Instagram account.
“Otherwise they can come along themselves and watch me at work,” he said.
The mural is expected to take from three to four weeks to complete.
Mr Buscombe’s portfolio of mural works include of 17 yellow tail black cockatoos near the Warrnambool Post Office, a girl walking through the wall of the McKillop Family Services and smaller works at Camperdown’s St Patrick’s Primary School and Terang’s St Thomas’ Primary School.