By Jed Lanyon
A new large-scale temporary sticker artwork has been installed along the side of The Memo to celebrate Not the Archies in the Yarra Ranges.
To mark the return of the Archibald Prize to the TarraWarra Museum of Art for the first time since 2012, council is reviving Not the Archies and is calling on local artists to get involved for their chance to have their portraits shown in the streets of Healesville and Yarra Glen.
Here, the grass is green is a new public artwork created using original painted portraits by 2012 Not the Archies finalists and reimagined by designer Andrea Innocent.
The artwork was installed on Tuesday 3 September and will feature throughout the duration of Not the Archies.
The artwork features Allan Gibson by Joseph Gibson, Barbara Rose by Pauline Molenaar, Peter Wadham by Elizabeth Stevenson-Ryan, Katie Cooke by Shelby Graham, Colm Clinton by Gabrielle Clinton and Aunty Dot Peters by Kate Bills.
Yarra Ranges Mayor Tony Stevenson, said the commitment for Not the Archies was simple – paint or draw a portrait of someone in the community you admire.
“Living in the Yarra Ranges, where we have a vibrant and diverse community, I’m sure anyone could quickly name someone in the area they think is great,” Cr Stevenson said.
“Not the Archies is a chance to show that person – and the community – what they mean to you, by creating and exhibiting their portrait in September.
“Taking part is simple – we provide a uniform canvas to entrants for a small fee, then you just have to create a portrait and we’ll show it in the streets of Healesville and Yarra Glen, as well as through projection exhibition events in other townships.
“There are some great community programs similar to this, such as Face2Face in Warburton and the Upwey Archies, so it’s great to bring Not the Archies back to this side of the valley.”
Entrants to Not the Archies pay a fee of $10 for adults or $5 for entrants 17 and under and receive a canvas in a uniform size.
From there, they’re asked to paint a portrait of anyone they admire in the community, as long as they live, work or play in the Yarra Ranges.
This year’s Not the Archies will have prizes in a number of categories.
Submissions are due 30 September. For those wishing to get involved, visit: https://bit.ly/33uhnio
Submitted portraits will be exhibited in a street gallery from 12 October to 15 November.
