Walldog artist pledges bold welcome mural for Mt Barker

Canadian artist Elaine Wallis is keeping quiet about the design of Mt Barker’s new welcome mural but she promises it will be “bold and memorable”.

At last week’s meeting, the Shire of Plantagenet council approved the location and concept design for a mural wall and viewing platform which will take pride of place on Albany Highway, south of the Muir Highway roundabout.

The council also approved upgrades to nearby visitor parking bays as part of an Albany Highway beautification project.

Wallis, an accomplished mural artist and signwriter, has been lined up to paint the mural by the Mt Barker Mountains and Murals group.

Having been involved in the “Walldog” movement for 25 years, she said the Mt Barker welcome mural would be the 12th major project she had led.

“Originally based out of the American Midwest, The Walldogs are a loosely organised tribe of sign painters, billboard artists and muralists from all over the world,” she said.

“We research history and capture pieces of it in various forms of vintage-style advertising murals. Though it often takes years of planning by a local team, Walldogs from far and wide descend on a town and, in a few short days, will leave behind permanent pictorials and works of art that tell your story.”

If all goes well in terms of COVID-19 travel restrictions, Wallis plans to be in Mt Barker in November to paint the mural during the second Mountains and Murals festival.

She will reunite with Mt Barker’s top cop and Mountains and Murals organiser Sgt David Johnson — a fellow Walldog.

“I am in the rough stages of the design for the Welcome to Mt Barker mural and I will leave the final reveal to the organising committee,” she said.

“I promise it will be bold and memorable, and the event will be nothing short of magical.

“I am really looking forward to heading to the other side of the planet later this year and participating in the second Mountains and Murals festival.”

“I can’t wait to savour some of those amazing baked goods and sip your local wine.”