Merriwa Silo Art – concept designs coming

A range of draft concept designs for the planned Merriwa Silo artwork will soon go on display for public feedback.

The artist, Sydney’s Sid Tapia, is known for his mural work. He and his team visited Merriwa in September, speaking with locals and school children. From that consultation the artist prepared a number of different images for consideration by the Merriwa Tourism and Promotion Committee.

One of the concept designs focuses on the subject ‘generations’ which Mr Tapia describes as “deliberately placing the people in the concept from youngest to oldest, desiring to show how generations pass on and share virtues, values, stories, victories, hardships, character and love.”

At last night’s meeting, the Merriwa Tourism and Promotion Committee decided to ask the artist for additional concepts for consideration, depicting wheat, sheep, Indigenous history and sandstone buildings.

The meeting also discussed the importance of not including too many images, and taking into consideration the themes that will be included on the town’s entry signs soon be installed.

Mayor Wayne Bedggood said the public would have the opportunity to comment on the concepts, and thanked the Committee for their ongoing work in narrowing down the options.

“The aim is that the silo artwork will reflect the local community’s historical and agricultural ties,” he said.

“Art always provokes a range of opinions, but whatever is finally decided will be a great tourist attraction visible from the Golden Highway.

“The creation of large public art projects including on the silos, was one of the recommendations in Council’s Merriwa Town Centre Revitalisation Masterplan based on consultations with the Merriwa community in 2015,” Cr Bedggood said.

“The silos project was recommended by the Merriwa Tourism and Promotion Committee as a priority and Council is providing the funding.

“Council thanks GrainCorp for their collaboration on this public art project,” Cr Bedggood said.

Other projects from the Merriwa Revitalisation Plan being advanced include historic photos of Merriwa to beautify the street bins, and the installation of wooden benches in Bettington Street.

Contact Details

Upper Hunter Shire Council
02 6540 1100
council@upperhunter.nsw.gov.au