New mural in Albury laneway rewards both creator and passers-by

The Wilson Street car park driveway entrance remains closed this week as Border artist Kristina Greenwood works on Home Sweet Butterfly along a 50-metre wall.

A companion piece to the mural Greenwood completed earlier this year on the opposite wall, the work features butterflies found on the Border.

The artist, who uses a water-based exterior house paint, admits recent rainfall has been a challenge.

"You just adapt," she said.

"On a wet day the paint might not dry, but then you have longer blending time so you can kind of use those things to your advantage."

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Albury Council public art officer Danielle McMaster said about nine murals had been created by Border artists in the past year.

Kade Sarte just finished Mighty Murray Float in Blacklocks Lane while Tracie MacVean was adding to her Thurgoona Community Centre works.

Mrs McMaster said artworks like Home Sweet Butterfly aimed to beautify the city and focus on elements of Border life.

"Whether it's our butterflies and our flora and fauna, animals out at Thurgoona, Mighty Murray Float - classic Albury thing, you're not from Albury until you've done that - that's the public art strategy," she said.

"Whatever we put on the walls of Albury are reflective of its people, its history, flora, fauna, culture.

"I think it's really important that we do that, that we tell our stories."

Greenwood said working in a public area rather than a studio added more meaning to her art.

"You get to learn about the space; local people come up and talk to you," she said.

"And then you get to change the space, it could be really drab, and change the atmosphere of that area so when people come past it boosts their mood or it's something for them to talk about.

"So it can stimulate conversation and that's really rewarding, it gives you a sense of purpose."

The Wilson Street driveway is closed until June 21.

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