Murals Archives - INSPIRING MAX

Big Picture Festival

November 9, 2020November 9, 2020 inspiringmax

In early October Newcastle held it’s inaugural Big Picture Festival. 14 international and local artists created big, bold murals transforming the city’s buildings.

Last weekend the lure of the murals got too much. I finally went to investigate. What great job they did. Each mural tells a story and shows the artists style. Personally, I think my two favourites were by Jordan Lucky (below) as I loved the colour involved in them.

I’m in two minds as to whether I would have preferred to have seen the artists creating them. In some ways I like the wow factor of the completed mural. Although seeing the techniques used to create the lady behind glass above would have been fascinating.

I love exploring the hidden details of street murals and I am sure next time I walk past them I will find other hidden surprises I missed the first time.

Inspired by todays Word of the Day Challenge: Lure

Merewether Aquarium

May 5, 2020May 5, 2020 inspiringmax

For many years, I have walked past the pedestrian underpass leading to Merewether Beach. As I had a walked past on the beach side, I had vaguely noticed that the outside was painted and was welcoming people to come inside. But I never did.

Last Sunday on my weekly local exploration walk however I found myself using the underpasss from the other side to get to the beach. It was then that I remembered it was called Merewether Aquarium. I couldn’t believe the difference.

The Merewether Aquarium was created by local artist, Mister Trevor Dickinson in 2014. An aquarium is a great description of the underpass as the artist has even painted a turtle and a shark on the roof of the underpass so it feels like you are in the viewing tunnel of a big aquarium.

The paintings on either side of the aquarium walls are fun and full of quirky details and hidden messages. Some of my favourites were:

The local Merewether bus
The artist himelf as a diver
Newcastle’s local 4 times World Champion Surfer – Mark Richards
Merewether Ocean Baths building
Merwether Surfhouse
The diving blocks from the ocean baths
The local hotel
Humpback whales that swim up and down the coast from May to November
Lifeguard vehicles

I also love the black lines painted regularly giving the impression you are looking through glass.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Life Imitates Art

February 13, 2016 inspiringmax

Old Quebec City has many murals however the first created, known as the mural of Quebecers is very special. It depicts life through the history of Quebec and its citizens. I could have looked at it for hours and still find something new. Cleverly disguised as part of the artwork on the building are: