By Danielle Davey
Imagine your artwork captivating passers-by every day. An exciting project by Mornington Peninsula Shire invites artists to turn that vision into reality.
StoryWall is a public art initiative transforming a wall outside the shire’s Queen Street offices into a large-scale, visual storytelling platform. With changing themes throughout the year, the rotating exhibition offers multiple opportunities for artists to be selected. A new artwork has just been revealed, and expressions of interest for the next display are open until mid-month. Artists are encouraged to design a temporary vinyl artwork for the 10m space.
Since its inception, the project has showcased a changing kaleidoscope of colourful and thought-provoking images. In 2024, Dr Betty Sergeant offered a glimpse into the mind of an artificial intelligence with her work SELF-PORTRAIT of an AI. The piece fused abstract geometric patterns with digital code to encapsulate AI’s identity.
For HERstory: Women of the Mornington Peninsula, Eleesa Howard and Sarah Tohill created a dynamic montage of archival photographs in collaboration with the Local History Network Group. The project won the 2025 National Trust Award for best history project.
To mark Naidoc Week 2025, First Nations artist Skyla Lauch (Gunditjmara, Kirrae Wurrung and Bundjalung) represented the theme Heart of Country, celebrating the interconnectedness of community, land and culture through vibrant symbols.
Most recently, Isabella Capezio’s large-scale collage To build a home
coincided with the Midsumma Festival. Her artwork, representing the experience of growing up queer, wove together found material such as photographic prints and old textbook clippings.
Music has long been the heartbeat of the Peninsula, and this autumn its stories take centre stage on the latest StoryWall installation. Jessie Willow Tucker’s creation Climb in the back with your head in the clouds and you’re gone recalls the illustration style of a Beatles lyrics book from childhood. The bold vinyl collage transforms local music ephemera – gig posters, tickets, photographs – into a striking visual tribute to the region’s grassroots gig culture.
For artists inspired to take up the challenge, expressions of interest are being accepted until May 15 for an artwork to be showcased from August to November on the theme Environmental Futures. They require a short artistic statement, CV, up to five images of previous work, and confirmation of availability for the key project period from May-June. If you miss the deadline, keep your eyes peeled for future opportunities.
For more information and to submit your interest, email Georgia Rouette at publicart@mornpen.vic.gov.au
