Coonalpyn grain silo artwork by Guido van Helten, showing portraits of five children, finished
AMAZING VIDEO: SA’s largest artwork is complete — five portraits of local kids now adorn the 30-metre grain silos of the tiny rural town of Coonalpyn. The remarkable project has had an immediate impact.
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THE paint is barely dry on South Australia’s largest art canvas, but already the tiny rural town of Coonalpyn is showing signs of rejuvenation and community pride.
Internationally renowned artist Guido van Helten this week finished five breathtaking portraits of children at play on the town’s 30m-high Viterra grain silos.
Its impact is obvious as one in three motorists stop each minute along the busy Dukes Highway to photograph the masterpiece, according to the Coonalpyn District Council.
“I’m a positive person, but the impact of this has gone further than we could’ve ever hoped for,” council chief executive Vincent Cammell said.
“It’s really changed the fabric of the town and brought them together in a way I don’t think has happened in a long time.
“The town has struggled for more than 30 years, now look at it.”
The project started in February and two new businesses have since opened, with another one planned in August to create eight new jobs in the town, 160km south of Adelaide.
But one of the greatest community outcomes is the impact on the town’s 200 residents, especially the children featured in the spray-painted mural.
Danielle Johnson’s daughter, Ciara, 9, is one five primary school students chosen as subjects by van Helten to symbolise the town’s future.
“It was a big shock when we found out she would be on it and her confidence has gone through the roof,” Ms Johnson said.
“She is normally very shy, but it has brought her confidence out tenfold, it’s been nothing but positive.”
Ciara said she was handling the new found fame well: “It’s been very exciting.”
Van Helten said the design did not focus on portraiture, but rather the circular features of the silo and encouraged visitors to move around for different viewing points.
The mural took 200 paint cans to create and is one of six projects as part of the council’s $100,000 Creating Coonalpyn initiative, which aims to bring a sense of pride and activity back to the community.
Viterra operations manager Jo Klitscher said a plan was already in motion for a similar arts project by another artist at the Kimba silos, on the Eyre Highway.
