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New Mural Makes A Splash Local artist Cynthia Gregg has left her mark on a wall in Wood Street with a Pioneer River-inspired mural. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

Cynthia hopes to fill the whole wall with similar figures. Photo supplied: Crossroad Arts

One of Mackay CBD’s many laneways is now a whole lot brighter thanks to local artist Cynthia Gregg. The space next to Sam’s Singapore Restaurant on Wood Street has been transformed, with Cynthia spending a week painting the whole wall white before creating her masterpiece last week. Cynthia, who is also a Crossroad Arts Wearable Art Co-Facilitator and performer, created the artwork using water-based exterior paints to celebrate the deep blue waters of the Pioneer River.

“The mural consists of a human silhouette spreading outwards into a large dynamic splashing of droplets in aquamarine blue hues,” Cynthia said. “This form will suggest a welcoming river spirit, inviting the audience to interact. “The themes are playfulness, vitality, appreciation of and engagement with arts and the natural marine environment.”

Brightening the street, the artwork invites passers-by into the laneway to interact with the piece. “This type of painting is designed to engage its audience with photo shoots and selfies,” Cynthia said. “It consists of shapes designed to smoothly frame and uplift the appearance of a person standing directly in front of the mural. “In photos, it will appear as though the person featured is one with the painting and wearing wings of splashing water rising, encouraging a cultural embrace with the river and street arts in Mackay.” Cynthia was able to complete the mural after receiving an Activate My Place! (AMP!) program micro-grant from Mackay Regional Council to create this new work.

She also had the support of Crossroad Arts and Horizon Clubhouse.

With the whole wall now painted white, Cynthia hopes to secure more funding to fill the wall with similar figures. Members of the local community are invited to take part in photoshoots with the completed mural, encouraging connection and share to social media using the hashtags #BlueRiverSpirit and #MackayPride.

Do you have an exciting creative idea and need a bit of financial assistance to get it off the ground? Mackay Regional Council is here to help you through the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF), offering almost $95,000 in grants during the latest funding round. RADF Committee Chair Councillor Fran Mann said this round of funding was again offering three different categories to promote creativity across the Mackay community. “RADF will again offer General Arts grants, as well as the Youth Arts grants which aim to support young people to pursue creative career pathways,” Ms Mann said. “There will also be Green Arts grants available, which will support initiatives that focus on environmentally based arts and cultural practice and that highlight issues relating to our unique local biodiversity. “Creativity makes communities connect, and RADF promotes the role and value of arts, culture and heritage as key drivers of diverse and inclusive communities and strong regions.” This funding round of RADF (round one for 2022/23) is open now and applications close Wednesday, October 5, 2022, for projects

Let Your Creativity Flow Get Connected At The commencing after Monday, November 14. This round will offer $46,000 in General Arts grants, $33,934 in Green Arts grants, Seniors Expo and $15,000 in Youth Arts grants. Previous RADF grant recipients have used the funds to publish books, record music, hold art exhibitions and more. Council is also looking for new RADF committee members and you or your arts organisation can still apply for RADF funds if you are a RADF committee member. To apply for a RADF grant, visit mackay. smartygrants.com.au. Bucasia Kindergarten Director Dorisina Penola and Arlo Russell pictured with an exhibition following local artist and RADF recipient, Shelley Engwirda’s grant to complete a four-week residency at Bucasia Kindergarten. Photo supplied: Mackay Regional Council

Seniors of all ages and stages are invited to come together at the Big Shed on the Mackay Showgrounds later this month for an event that promises to offer a wide range of opportunities to maximise quality of life during retirement years. The annual Mackay Seniors Expo is a popular event which often attracts upwards of 2000 people who enjoy browsing over 75 different stalls. There is plenty to see and do - discover avenues to volunteer your time to charity organisations, sign-up to sporting activities such as pickleball and learn about your health options including managing hearing loss or how you can receive Meals on Wheels. Mayor Greg Williamson said the expo is a great place to connect with others. “This expo is all about making connections, whether with a group you’d like to be part of or a sport or hobby you’d like to try, or maybe just with old friends that you haven’t seen in a while,” he said. “We’ve found that community members are interested in learning more about leisure and lifestyle activities as well as the

Make new friends at the Seniors Expo more ‘practical’ considerations of growing older and staying active and healthy. “This expo really offers a tremendous mix – in the Big Shed this year you will find everything from senior-friendly sports and hobbies to retirement living and healthcare services.” The event forms part of the Queensland Government’s state-wide Seniors Month celebrations which aim to improve community attitudes towards older people, facilitate community participation and activity by older people, and enhance community connections and inter-generational relationships. WHAT: Mackay Seniors Expo WHERE: The Big Shed at the Mackay Showgrounds WHEN: Tuesday, October 11 from 9.00am to 1.00pm