Geelong Women’s Street Art Program: Celebrating Women through Art
Geelong is a city that is known for its arts culture, creativity and vibrant arts scene. A new exciting initiative is taking place in the city, and it is powerful and meaningful. Geelong Women’s Street Art Program is an initiative of the Arts and Culture division of Greater Geelong that celebrates female creativity. The program is an opportunity to celebrate the work of women artists from around the world, both local and national. Their talents will be displayed in large-scale projects throughout Central Geelong.
This program aims not only to promote female artists, but also to highlight their diverse ideas, creativity processes, and contributions in the ever-growing discussion about public space and arts. While you are exploring the city, stop and admire the work that is currently being done by three talented women artists: Kerrie Politness, Jasmine Mansbridge and Manda Lane. These three women each have a different artistic style, and their work is sure to make a lasting impact on the public.
Geelong Women’s Street Art Program
Kerrie Politness: “A CESH”, A Symphony of Color and Shape
The work of KerriePolisness is one of the most notable pieces of the Geelong Women’s Street Art Program. She is a conceptual artist known for her geometric site-specific wall murals. Poliness’s art often explores the intersection of art and systems. She draws inspiration from the act creating patterns and structure that engages the viewer in unexpected ways.
Artist’s vision:
Poliness is renowned for her large-scale geometric pieces that are anything but perfectly symmetrical. Her art focuses on the imperfections in nature and manmade environments. She uses common materials to create striking patterns and structures which reveal the interconnectedness between people and nature. Her art often includes instructions on how to create it, inviting people to participate in the process. Her participatory art lets viewers experience the dynamic and ever-changing nature of creativity.
Artwork: “A CeSH”
Kerrie Poliness, for the Geelong Women’s Street Art Program has created a color palette that is unique and responds both to the site and the surrounding environment. It’s not just about painting a wall; her work involves improvisation and discovery. The piece’s title is “A CESH “,, a reference from jazz music to the term “Contrapuntal Elaboration of Static Harmony “. Jazz musicians use this term or “CESH” to describe the art of creating movement by improvising within pre-established rules.
Poliness says that the process of creating her mural is similar to jazz. She develops a set of rules or instructions that guide her work. Then, she allows for improvisation. Her exploration of geometric and color forms echoes jazz principles, where spontaneity and harmony meet to create something more than its parts. “A CESH”, invites viewers see art as structured improvisation where rules can tested, broken and reimagined.
Poliness’s Mural is located at Minns Lane in Geelong. The vibrant colors and bright patterns create a visual experience that is engaging
Jasmine Mansbridge – Geometry, Storytelling and Optimism
Jasmine Mansbridge is the next artist in the Geelong Women’s Street Art Program. She is a professional who works across various mediums including sculpture, public artwork, and intimate painting. Mansbridge, who has a studio and resides in Hamilton, is known for combining exploration with refinement in her art. Her art invites viewers into a world where imagination and contemplation meet, where geometrical elements and personal stories come together.
Artist’s vision:
Jasmine Mansbridge’s desire to create art that inspires thought, reflection and wonder is what drives her. Her art often balances abstract and personal elements, allowing viewers a connection with the work through their own experiences. She uses symbolism and geometry to create a world that invites viewers to enter. Her pieces are known as playful, warm, and optimistic, adding a feeling of joy to any space they occupy.
Women Street Art
Artwork:
Mansbridge wants to create a mural that is optimistic as well as poignant. It should be able to evoke feelings of warmth and hope, while also allowing for reflection. The mural will include complex geometric patterns, symbolic portals and encourage the viewer to tell their own story as they navigate through the artwork. The mural’s design will create a feeling of travel through an imaginary world and invite viewers to daydream.
Mansbridge will use animation in her mural, which is a medium that she has explored extensively. A QR code, which is part of the interactive element of the artwork will be placed at the location of the mural. This will allow visitors to scan the code and view the animation on their smartphone. This technology layer enhances the experience by offering a dynamic interpretation of the art.
The mural is located in James Street Geelong. It will offer a joyful and thought-provoking experience, encouraging people to stop and reflect.
Manda Lane: Welcome to the [Concrete] Jungle – Nature in Urban Landscape
Manda Lane is the third artist in the Geelong Women’s Street Art Program. She is a botanical painter whose goal it to bring nature into the industrialized urban landscape. Lane’s work explores the contrasts of the natural world with the man-made environment. She uses Australian native plants to bring the beauty of nature back into spaces that would otherwise be dominated with concrete and steel.
Artist’s vision:
Lane’s art reflects her connection with nature. Lane, who is an IT professional, often feels the urge to reconnect with nature in order to find balance. Her art is in response to the growing dominance of technology and the decreasing opportunities for “accidental encounters” with nature. Lane’s work aims to inspire people to discover the beauty and connection of nature.
Lane’s artistic practice includes papercutting. This is a traditional craft which she adapts for the modern urban art scene. Her piece is unique in the street art program because she uses a labor-intensive method of applying intricate black paper designs as paste-ups.
Welcome to the Concrete Jungle
Lane’s street art mural for the Geelong Women’s Street Art Program will feature native Australian botanicals from the Bellarine region, including varieties of Acacia. This piece uses papercut pasteups, which is a departure from traditional mural paintings. It offers a bold yet delicate contrast to the concrete walls. The black papercuts will be placed on a white backdrop, allowing the images to stand out with clarity.
Lane’s art aims to soften and calm the harsh industrial environment at the **Civic Carpark Entrance**. It creates a visual experience that is inviting, calming, and contrasts with the urban landscape. Lane’s use of botanical imagery reminds us that nature is beautiful and has the power to heal. It also helps us reconnect with the real world.
This piece is located at the Civic Carpark Entrance in Geelong and will be a stunning addition to the cityscape, reminding people of the importance of nature.
Graffiti on Urban
Geelong Women’s Street Art Program – A Celebration of Female Creativity
Geelong Women’s Street Art Program represents more than a collection murals. It’s an expression of female empowerment and the transformative power of art. The program commissions these talented female artists to highlight their unique voices and to inspire a greater understanding of the role women play in the cultural landscape.
Each work by KerriePolisness, Jasmine Mansbridge and Manda Lane presents a unique perspective on the ways in which art can interact with nature, space and community. These murals encourage the public to engage in art on a personal level, allowing for reflection, wonder and inspiration.
Take time to explore these beautiful and thought provoking pieces of art when you are exploring Central Geelong. Each piece represents their vision and passion, contributing to the richer, diverse cultural fabric of Geelong.
