Cronulla RSL wall transforms

Walk the Walls is coming back to Cronulla! From 9-11th December, there will be 30 artists painting large, medium and small walls around Cronulla, adding to the existing art trail in the area.

The festival will be targeting ‘problem walls’ that are frequently tagged, in a bid to minimise vandalism and increase beautification of our public spaces.

Renowned street artist Tim Phibs, who is project manager and curator for the festival, hopes it will ‘promote the importance of public art in our urban spaces as well as the positive impact it can have in our community’. Works will feature stories about country from first nation artists, portraits, pattern making and traditional graffiti.

Walk the Walls will also be supporting established and emerging artists, by creating opportunities to paint their beautiful work around the area. This industry was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cronulla RSL are supporting the festival once again this year, with the addition of their car park wall being transformed. The wrap around wall (adjacent to The Esplanade & Cronulla Park) is frequently tagged with graffiti.  A mural has been painted on the Club’s wall by Phibs and other talented street artists Ashley Johnston, Paul Riot & Brode Compton.

The foursome have created a site-specific mural with coastal themes and a nod to our ANZAC Diggers. Working together over one week, they have created one large harmonious piece which features wildlife, marine life and landscape familiar to Cronulla. Some of the elements included are the Green & Golden Bell Treefrog, Board Billed Sand Piper & Eastern Blue Groper.

This wall is the first of the 2022 Walk the Walls festival walls to be produced, and has already created interest and a buzz around town for the main event in December.

‘Overall we have had a very positive response from the general community. We are excited to create a giant outdoor gallery, for anyone and everyone to experience.’ said Phibs. Phibs likens art to “…food and music. Everyone is going to have a different taste. We have tried to select a large diverse mix of different styles to showcase throughout the festival.”

The Cronulla RSL wall is on display 24hours a day. The remainder of the artworks can be viewed by following the art trail around Cronulla 9-11th December (details to be released).

For more information about the Cronulla RSL wall, the inspiration and the artists visit https://www.cronullarslcommunity.com.au/walkthewalls

For more information about Walk the Walls, visit https://www.instagram.com/walkthewallsfestival/?hl=en