Standing out: Winner of the 2022 Rochester Mural Festival Marco Pennacchia, at left, in front of his artwork, Teardrop, that won both the judge’s prize and people’s choice awards, with fellow mural artists Chris Duffy (left in group), Reggie (Christina) Rankin, Gren Freeman, Kerry Nicholson (seated, white hat), Maryann Jenkins, Joyce Dempsey, Grahame Wilson and Rebecca Murray. Photo: Bransen Gibson
Rochester’s status as a destination for Victorian art lovers took another giant step forward as a result of what organisers are describing as the “best ever’’ Rochester Mural Festival.
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The Campaspe hamlet is now considered one of Victoria’s foremost destinations for lovers of silo art, murals and carvings, which are scattered throughout the streets of the town.
There are now 44 murals on the walls of buildings in Rochester, a figure that will only grow as the years go by and participation in the events grows further.
Judy Anderson, one of the festival organisers, said more than 2000 people visited the mural site — during competition hours — throughout the event.
Italian born artist Marco Pennacchia, 27, was the 2022 festival winner with his mural titled Teardrop, which was inspired by the Massive Attack hit song from 1998.
The theme for the festival this year was ‘Paint us a Song’, which Mrs Anderson said resonated strongly with the public.
Art aficionados: Rochester Mural Festival committee members Val Gledhill, left, Wayne Park, artist Kerry Nicholson, Judy Anderson, Peter Anderson and Liz Dellar in front of Nicholson’s mural piece Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, which was named ‘highly commended’ at the 2022 festival. Photo: Bransen Gibson
“It (the theme) caught the imagination of the public,’’ Mrs Anderson said.
“We had the songs that inspired the murals playing on the last day, instead of the band we have had in the past.”
Mr Pennacchia also collected the people’s choice award, with a clear margin to two-time winner Kerry Nicholson, who received the ‘highly commended’ honour for his Lucy in the Sky with Diamondspiece, inspired by the Beatles song.
Mr Anderson said the committee was now on the hunt for a new theme for 2023.
She said many of the visitors to the mural site were from interstate, many appreciating the event as they travelled the Victorian silo art trail.
This year’s murals will remain in place for 12 months.
One, maybe even two, of this year’s murals have already been sold.
Husband-and-wife team Rebecca Murray and Grahame Wilson’s Morning has Broken creation has been sold to a Rochester person and another potential buyer is interested in Jarryd Farrow’s Holy Grail creation.
Mr Anderson said the quality of work, along with the artists themselves, assured the festival’s success.
“They were the best bunch of artists that we have ever had. No disagreements or incidents, they were so appreciative of the committee and the volunteers,” she said.
Along with the appreciation of the murals, an art exhibition in the old courthouse attracted $3500 in sales, 10 per cent of which will be used by the Rotary club to furnish the garden at the historic facility.
Mrs Anderson said the judges were astounded by the quality of the work.
“Marco doesn’t use an air brush,” she said.
“The contrast between his black and white portrait and the very colourful murals of several other artists made it a unique event.”
This year’s mural festival winner is returning to Italy for two months in June, but first is involved as a finalist in an art exhibition in Brisbane, titled The Percival Award.
He spent the week sharing a cabin at the Rochester caravan park with fellow muralist Chris Duffy.
While the winner finished his work mid-afternoon on Friday, some artists were racing against the clock.
“They all finished on time, but Chris Duffy had only two minutes to spare and Rebecca and Graham had just 10 minutes to go when they finished,” Mrs Anderson said.
On page 10 of today’s Campaspe News are more photos from the mural festival event by Rohan Aldous and Bransen Gibson.
