Creative faces feature all over the shire

The 10th annual Surf Coast Arts Trail might have been cancelled due to COVID but the team involved has found a way to keep the creativity flowing in the community.

The Paste Up project is keeping the spirit of the trail alive, with 40 striking black and white portraits of local artists captured by photographer Daniela Rodriguez being featured in an outdoor exhibition around the shire.

Some of the portraits are pasted on the outer walls of the Multi Arts Centre (MAC) in Beach Road, Torquay, with others going up around Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Bellbrae, Winchelsea and Deans Marsh.

Among those featured are public artist Rowena Martinich, painter Mike McLean, artist Kathryn Junor, ceramicist Kirsty Manger, wood carver Roger Brown and textile artist Barbara Roe Hebb – to name a few.

Ms Rodriguez said she loved working on the project which was developed by the Surf Coast Shire where she is an arts support officer working alongside arts development officer Harriet Gaffney who designed the Arts Trail program.

“I love the Paste Ups because it’s a public art project it just gives a lot of exposure to the artists themselves,” she said.

“So many projects and exhibitions have been cancelled so artists and performers have been among the biggest sufferers during lockdowns.

“Even when we have been putting them up, we have got a really good response from the public.

“It was good to put the name of the artist and have the artist looking out to the community because it is often surfing or sports that bring a lot of attention to the area and sometimes people forget there is a really big creative community on the Surf Coast.”

Each large-scale portrait includes the artist’s name and art medium. There is also a QR code linked to their website or socials, with members of the public asked to show their support for the amazing artists involved in the project.

The Surf Coast Arts Trail was due to be held on August 6-10.

Surf Coast Shire mayor Libby Stapleton said the pandemic has had a huge impact on local artists and creatives.

“COVID outbreaks have meant we’ve had to cancel the Surf Coast Arts Trail two years in a row,” she said.

“The arts trail is such an important event that generates commissions and income for more than 200 visual artists across our shire.

“They need our support more than ever, so please head to surfcoastartstrail.com.au to see their incredible work.”