Footscray has a vibrant new mural incorporating local flora and fauna.
The mural titled ‘Abundance’, was painted by Katherine Gailer and supported by Maribyrnong council’s StreetWORKS program and the state government.
Ms Gailer said the main themes which council wanted to explore in the mural were sustainability and community.
“When I applied to do this work, one of the things that struck me was the collaborative efforts they do to bring a more sustainable future to the area,” she said.
“I took that as inspiration and portrayed two little girls. I like portraying the younger generation as a symbol of hope and a dream for the future.”
Ms Gailer said the more work she does on the mural, the clearer and simpler the idea and the concept becomes.
“This has to do with understanding ourselves as being connected to each other and the land we are from.
“The two girls’ hair is braided, and from their braids is nature growing out of it,” she said.
“There are also gums and kangaroos coming out of it, so there is a lot of abundance coming out of this collective action and intricate connection.”
Representation was another key theme which Ms Gailer focused on when painting the mural.
“They are all from different backgrounds to represent the diverse community of Footscray.
“Nature’s growth in the mural shows us that every action we make counts. This is a positive message which says we can all do it together.”
Jennifer Pittorino
