Award winner: Echuca artist Maryann Jenkins was a crowd favourite at the Rochester Mural Festival, taking home $500 and the People’s Choice award for her mural Drovers Dream. Maryann was one of eight shortlisted artists who were featured in the annual festival which ran from April 6 to April 14. Each artist based their murals on identical smaller paintings that they had already submitted. Maryann’s piece is currently for sale for $1500. Photo: Shannon Colee
Photo by
Shannon Colee
An Echuca local was shown much love during the Rochester Mural Festival, even managing to come out on top in the People’s Choice award.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
The festival took place from April 6 to April 14 and involved eight shortlisted artists spending the week painting a replica of their previously submitted piece in Rochester.
Maryann Jenkins, who won the People’s Choice for her artwork Drovers Dream, said she appreciated the community support.
“It was great. It’s nice to have that acknowledgement from your friends and family and people who know you,” she said.
“It’s a good feeling just to know that people appreciate the work that you’ve done.”
Grand Champ: Echuca artist Maryann Jenkins said it was nice to feel appreciated for her artwork entitled Drovers Dream which landed her a $500 prize for taking out the People’s Choice award. Photo: Aidan Briggs
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Her piece was based on a poem that she found in her husband’s scout jamboree book.
Ms Jenkins said it was great to see artists with various styles participate in the mural festival.
“You’ve got the really arty people who are used to doing street art and murals and things, and then you had people like me that are probably more traditional artists with a narrative or storybook style,” she said.
"I think it was really good for all the people who came by to see them that there were all these different.”
Gren Freeman won the judges’ competition, a fact that surprised him.
“I was chuffed. It was a nice feeling. I wasn’t expecting it, but it was a thrill,” he said.
Winner: Gren Freeman won the judges’ competition and $5000 for his mural ‘Impossible Dream’. Photo: Aidan Briggs
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
His piece, Impossible Dream, was a self-portrait surrounded by things he wished didn’t exist in the world.
“It's basically about trying to get rid of all the things in the world that we don’t really need, like weapons and garbage and money and different things,” he said.
“It’s not meant to be gloomy, and I hope people haven’t taken it that way. I wanted to make a statement because so many things in the world need to be removed, even if that’s an impossible dream.”
Marco Pennacchia who took home Highly Commended, won the mural festival competition when he took part in 2022.
His work this year represented the veil between the dream world and reality.
Working hard: 'Dream Unveiled' by Marco Pennacchia in progress. Photo: Aidan Briggs
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Organiser Judy Anderson said she was thrilled with how the event went this year.
“It went absolutely fantastic. We didn’t have any problems at all with anything or anyone,” she said.
“I think everyone was really, really happy. The weather was good and we couldn’t be happier with how it all worked out.”
Happy painter: New Zealand artist Helen English loved being a part of the mural festival. Photo: Aidan Briggs
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Inspiration: Kerry Nicholson’s mural Sweet Sweet Surrender was about his wife’s dream to be young again. Photo: Aidan Briggs
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Crowds: People came out all week to watch the mural artists paint their pieces. Photo: Aidan Briggs
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Popular vote: Everyone got the chance to pick their favourite on Sunday. Photo: Shannon Colee
Photo by
Shannon Colee
Bright: Chris Duffy’s mural Glitched - I have a dream was a popular and colourful one.
Photo by
Shannon Colee
Proud moment: Kerry Nicholson was glad he managed to finish his mural. Photo: Aidan Briggs
Photo by
Shannon Colee
Looking on the funny side: Steve Monk wanted to make a mural with a lot of humour, which is a big part of his piece Livin’ the Dream. Photo: Shannon Colee
Photo by
Shannon Colee