A team of artists have started bringing to life glimpses of the Shire’s history through murals being painted on Capel buildings, as part of the inaugural Captivate Capel event.
The event began on April 8 and has already started to transform the town into a hub of activity.
The official launch of the event will be held on April 22 with markets, community art workshops and an interactive walking tour kicking off from 10am to 4pm.
A community art project will also take place on the Shire’s water tank behind the Capel Community Centre with artists lending a helping hand to avid painters. A Retro Caravan will be in town for the community to help paint in 1950s, 60s and 70s style and Paint Storm Phil Doncon will break dance to the sound of music while he paints.
Capel Shire Chief Executive Officer Paul Sheedy said the event would bring some much needed recognition to the town and show visitors and travellers passing by that Capel is a great place to stopover on their trip down south.
“It provides a great social opportunity to mix with visitors and locals alike, participate in all the activities and view the many interesting murals and art works on display,” Mr Sheedy said.
“It’s a great opportunity to start what could be a fantastic annual event to replace CapelFest.”
Local artist Erin Rafferty initiated the event with the Shire because she wanted residents and visitors to explore the town site and learn about the history of Capel and its natural surroundings.
“It's about bringing the community together and enriching the place we live in to increase awareness of street art and its positive effects on a community by provoking imagination, critical thinking and a connection to our environment,” Ms Rafferty said.
“Each participating business has worked together with an artist to create a custom mural for their premises.
“This is real art, by real artists and has been a lengthy process to get to the fun part of finally painting and showcasing some amazing talent.”
