First Nations artists complete new mural for Mackay CBD

Two Indigenous artists are teaching local youth “both black and white” on how to put their thumbprint on the town. Have you seen the new mural yet?

A new mural has been added to Mackay's street scene. Picture: Contributed

Two Indigenous artists have come to Mackay to bring a part of their legacy through art, and teach local youth “both black and white” how to put their thumbprint on the town.

Biripi man Jason Wing and his partner Maddison Gibbs from Gunu Baakindji country were welcomed by Mackay Regional Council to bring art to the corner of Gregory St and Second Lane.

While based in Sydney, Mr Wing said he has a deep connection to the town through his mother Lyn Irving, who he introduced as a respected elder in the Mackay community.

First Nations artists Jason and Maddison Wing have come to Mackay to complete a mural and deliver workshops to the town's youth. Picture: Estelle Sanchez

The NSW artists created a mural titled “Migration”, with the background representing a sugar cane fire while its stories would acknowledge Mackay’s “uncomfortable history” of slave trading, black birding, kidnapping of South Sea islanders and Torres Strait Islanders.

“While there is some acknowledgment, there needs to be more,” Mr Wing said.

“Like, we’ve noticed that there are some cultural artworks here, but there’s an extreme lack of it, considering the huge cultural population.”

The artists said this was most likely linked to a lack of funding for developing art in a local community, that does not get the same attention as Sydney Metro.

“And I guess that’s the challenge for us,” Mr Wing said.

“How do we distil very complex, problematic, local histories, but in an accessible, friendly way that engages community and wants to propel them to do similar works?”

Mackay, Sarina and Mirani youth attended workshops led by two Indigenous artists for Youth Week. Picture: Contributed

Mackay, Sarina and Mirani youth attended workshops led by two Indigenous artists for Youth Week. Picture: Contributed

Mr Wing and Ms Biggs said them coming to Mackay had also been about “planting the seeds” for the younger generation through delivering a series of workshops as part of Mackay Regional Council’s Youth Week activities.

“We’ll have practice walls and panels up for young people to practice, to learn how to use spray cans, to learn how to use stencils, in the hope that if we train them up and give them the skills, they will one day be able to paint a large mural in Mackay.

“But those seeds need to be fertilised and funded ongoingly over the years,” Mr Wing said.

A Mackay Regional Council spokesperson said 23 young people attended the workshops across the three locations of Mackay, Sarina and Pioneer Valley.