Drawn Together Nambour urban street artwork to connect community with the environment

Thanks to the Drawn Together Nambour community initiative, street artist EJ (Filka) Zyla will create a striking urban artwork on Dixons Bakehouse alleyway to connect the community to the environment while reducing graffiti vandalism.

Council Community Portfolio Councillor Jenny McKay said graffiti prevention was a challenge for all communities, including the Sunshine Coast.

“Council established the Drawn Together program in September 2015 to support a shared community response to graffiti management,” Cr McKay said.

“To understand, manage and prevent graffiti vandalism, council also developed a Graffiti Action Toolkit to assist the community in its removal. This resource is available via council’s website.”

Division 10 Councillor Greg Rogerson said after the success of the Drawn Together pilot project in Beerwah and Caloundra, the program was being delivered in Nambour.

“The Drawn Together Nambour project has successfully transitioned to a community initiative, managed by a community working group, which will deliver large-scale street art pieces to energise and celebrate Nambour,” Cr Rogerson said.

“The first artwork will be completed by local artist EJ Zyla on the north facing alleyway wall off 121 Currie Street, Nambour, previously known as Dixons Bakery wall.”

Drawn Together Nambour curator and program coordinator Wallea Eaglehawk said she was absolutely thrilled to have secured EJ Zyla as the first artist to paint a creative response to vandalism.

“When the working group saw EJ's work for the first time we were completely blown away at her moving, strong female characters,” she said.

“We instantly knew we had to get her to paint the Dixons Bakehouse wall as it would set Nambour apart from the other coastal towns while exploring activation through street art.

“It will be an absolute pleasure to work with EJ as what she has planned for the wall is going to be captivating and something all of Nambour can be proud of. We believe this will also help to reduce vandalism in this alleyway.”

EJ said the Drawn Together Nambour artwork allowed not only herself, but other creatives who have a different style to contribute to their community and change ideas about street and urban art.

“My artwork entitled Bird Shapes Unfolding is about the unspoken language that connects us with our environment. By looking up and seeing the beauty in small things, appreciating what is around you and allowing the mundane to become less so,” she said.

“To me, urban art is about claiming back our environment by way of expressing a desire to live outside what is placed in front of us.

“It is also the perfect way to take the stigma of ‘exclusivity’ out of art. You give to the space and hope that it lifts the spirits or evokes critical thinking of people passing by.”

The community is invited to attend the official launch of Drawn Together Nambour showcasing the artwork of EJ (Filka) Zyla at Coolihawk Espress Cafe at the Old Ambulance Station, 80 Howard Street, Nambour at 6pm on Saturday, June 18. To RSVP visit facebook.com/drawntogetherprogram.