Just when you think that local artist Paul Perry from Milpi Magic Mosaics cannot wow you anymore with his creativity, he releases another mosaic work and the colour, vision and exceptional skill is showcased once again.
His two latest works are quite different as they were designed and created for very different situations and for different clients, showing his innovation can lead to pieces that will be enjoyed for generations.
Fruit Salad 2024 is a 1.5m diam mosaic commissioned by the Fraser Coast Regional Council and recently installed in the footpath outside the Town Hall in Maryborough.
With the piece being installed in the footpath area outside the Maryborough Town Hall, it had to be traffic-tolerant, non-slip, but also without sharp edges that could cut bare feet.
The story it tells connects with the history of the Town Hall. The piece incorporated pineapples, oranges and other citrus, recognising the contribution made by a local orchardist to the funding of the original Town Hall building.
Paul came up with the idea for the design after a number of conversations with the council representative and a local historian.
As always, the design is site-specific and the triangulation of the fruit elements acknowledged the three ways pedestrians could approach the artwork.
The border pattern is Romanesque in style and is a nod to the historical nature of the story, while also being Paul’s quirky addition to the design.
Shine On 2024 is a memorial piece commissioned by Wendy Johnston in honour of her 25-year-old daughter Abigail Johnston who died suddenly a little more than a year ago, with the piece full of images and ideas that capture the essence of who she was.
Paul said while he unfortunately did not have the pleasure of meeting Abigail, it was an honour and privilege to fulfill this for her mother Wendy who had in fact facilitated his first commission piece Shazz’s Garden 2020 which is now located in the cancer ward of the Bundaberg Hospital.
“The design idea developed after a moving conversation with Wendy about her Abigail, her life, her work, her character, her interests, her foibles and her eclectic collection of tattoos.
“Wendy shared a number of photos with me of these tattoos which I have incorporated in the design, while Abigail also had a long association with the beach and the Bundaberg Surf Lifesaving Club, so the waves and lifesaving flag dominate the scene.
“Sunflowers were her favourite flower and mum and daughter had matching bee tattoos which I have incorporated.
“I picked up that Abby was a bit of unique character and didn’t fit easily into a neat box, so the design has a break out in the bottom right around the sunflower petals.
“The music running across the piece is a song Wendy used to sing to Abby as a child and there is lots, lots more to explore up close.”
Wendy Johnston said she had known Paul for several years, initially through his art and then as a friend.
“I have always greatly admired Paul’s creativity especially around these local areas,” Wendy said.
“I was thinking of ways I could continue to honour my gorgeous daughter Abigail and it occurred to me how magical it would be to have a timeless mosaic that captured Abby’s essence with Paul the obvious choice.
“Paul’s ability to accurately interpret Abby’s essence and my intensions was remarkable.
“I wanted a piece of art that would encapsulate all of Abby not just a moment when she looked a certain way.
“Shine On has certainly achieved this as it truly captures so much of my beautiful Abby allowing myself and others to really feel and see the big picture of my adorable best friend and daughter.”
Paul said that both pieces were labours of love and with technical challenges that he took as learning experiences.
“I would guess each took between 150 and 200 hours to complete.
“One beautiful part of the special piece for Abby was that her mother Wendy gave me some sea glass and other glass pieces that Abby had collected during her Navy travels which I incorporated into the mosaic.
“Also, Wendy and some of her family came to my studio and made a small section of the mosaic as way of making it even more personal.
“Mosaicing is my happy place and keeps me sane and when I am commissioned to do work that brings joy to others, that is even better.
“I plan to keep going as long as the opportunities keep opening up.
“Hopefully the next community mosaic project will be happening soon, so more people can get involved.”
The community are waiting with bated breath for Paul’s public art submissions for Bargara Headlands and Bill Fritz Park with the BPA and Bargara Lions Club to go up for the Bundaberg Regional Council for consideration at its July meeting.
