‘Painting, not standing’ 2021-2023 | Mural in Broadbent Lane, off Ormond Road, Elwood

The project

Since I was 8 years old, my father took me to the Natural Health Supplies organic grocers on Ormond Road, Elwood. Upon arriving in the shop, the owner, Bruce, would often throw a piece of fruit for me to catch. I never wanted to drop it and I think he had a good arm as I never did - this is how I became to love brown ‘bosc‘ pears. He always had the yummiest fruit that wasn’t found anywhere else - special tomatoes, sultana grapes, brown pears. The old scales and cash register always caught my eye, as did the pineapples hanging from the roof beams.

Bruce passed away a few years ago. The shop is now operating under a Trust, which will see health supplies and natural health information shared with the community for future generations.

Early 2021, I dropped my Dad to the shop for a health meeting and saw the blank wall - white washed with a hint of an old painted tree, created under Bruce’s commission. I asked if I could paint the wall…

My design

I chose a design that would incorporate in the shop’s personable history, into my own personal painting style.

‘Bruce’: the name is aligned with ‘willowlands’ - therefore I have incorporated a small thicket of trees with colours resonate of willow trees. The leaves are akin to fruit trees to represent a peaceful offering to the world.

‘Standish’: the name is aligned with ‘stone walls’, or an ‘enclosed park’ - therefore the trees grow from a field of flowers, yet with an absence of walls, for Bruce broke down walls with his vision of peace.

The name also associates with ‘careful’ and ‘thoughtful’ - I searched for golden birds to represent the way Bruce guided so many people to better health and happiness. There are a few yellow birds native to the area: the ‘helmeted honey-eater’, ‘eastern yellow robin’, ‘olive backed sunbird’, and ‘white-plumed honey-eater’. During my searches, I often stumbled across the number 4 so there are four imaginative birds which hold elements from various native species, two of them playing in the native waratah flowers.

Finally, my signature trait of a starry sky has two constellations: the first of Aries when Bruce was born, and the second of Capricorn when Bruce passed. A butterfly flutters from the first to the second, symbolising the movement of life’s spirit through our earthly realm.

The title

There is a “No Standing” sign along the frontage of the wall. I think of how Bruce was always on his feet, how he never stopped, how he always persisted in his quest for a healthier, happier world for all sentient beings. Bruce was playful, with no bounds in formal rules, just a beautiful sense of how the world could be at peace.

The title of this artwork is ‘Painting, not standing’. A play on both: my muse, and the concept of street-art itself.

The title alludes to how seemingly quiet and peaceful stillness can, over time, create huge waves of conscious action.

Elwood

It is such a pleasure to work in Elwood.

There are so many lovely people who stop to chat, many more speak complements as they pass by. A few children look on shyly with fascination, while others happily skip past saying words like ‘beautiful’ and ‘looks great’!

I hope the community can catch glimpses of peace and momentary happiness when they see the mural. That it might brighten up everyday lives. That the design may remind us all… of the beauty in our connections to nature.

Share, tag…

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Caelene D’Arcy (nee Glen) tags: @caelenedarcyneeglen #caeleneartist