Sheffield: Mural Fest and a World of Marbles!
May 17th, 2011 | 
Author: Sheffield Tasmania: Marble-ous Murals!
by Jo Kuchel
We made a tiny detour to Sheffield on our return journey from Hobart to Devonport at the end of our Tasmanian visit. We had a little time to spare before catching the Spirit of Tasmania back to Melbourne. And our timing was perfect, because Mural Fest was just concluding for another year.
Mural Fest in Sheffield, North West Coast zone, Tasmania
Mural Fest, Sheffield
Mural Fest is a week-long art competition held in Sheffield each year, starting Easter Sunday. Nine finalists are selected to paint a mural in the park, each using the same poem for their inspiration. The 2011 theme poem was Power of Community by PB Tewson.
Theme poem for 2011 Mural Fest: Power of Community by PB Tewson
A panel of judges choose a winner at the end of the week, awarding the main prize of $6,000 to the artist. This year’s Mural Fest Judge’s Award was won by Christian Griffith of Murwillumbah in NSW.
Winning entry, Mural Fest Judges Award in 2011: by Christian Griffiths
Who would have thought that a dawn bright with birdsong could have inspired the painting of a city bus stop by a brick wall? Extremely clever interpretation, and very creative. Christian is an artist who has elevated his original aerosol spray-paint lettering work on public walls (aka graffiti) to fine art.
Editor’s Note: The organisers of the Clarence Street Art & Music Festival
at Rosny Farm would be pleased with this year’s outcome in Sheffield.
The judges also highly commended the mural painted by Kerry and Malcolm Nicholson, brothers from Queensland. Just goes to show a little of the variety produced in the Sheffield Mural Park outdoor gallery. A $1,000 prize is also awarded to the artist receiving the most support from the public over the progress of the art festival.
Mike studies the art in Mural Park, Sheffield Tasmania
World of Marbles, Sheffield
During our short stop-over, we also managed to visit the World of Marbles. Found in the main street of Sheffield, the World of Marbles is part shop, part gallery and part art studio.
World of Marbles contemporary art gallery: main street, Sheffield
The town of murals is naturally a popular tourist destination, with the outdoor paintings a main focus of the visitor experience. Mount Roland provides a beautiful backdrop; and with Cradle Mountain National Park nearby, resident artists have an attractive location to set up camp.
Like one of Tania’s favourites (Rino Nobel of the HR Factor in Geeveston), the artists at the World of Marbles specialise in lamp working. And while Rino turns out some fabulous jewellery, the contemporary glass art studio in Sheffield produces marbles, handmade in Tasmania before your very eyes!
World of Marbles, Sheffield: Jo Foster makes miniature animals
With the kids having a pet sheep at home, it was fitting to see a lamb materialise on the end of the stick (and not a kebab shop in sight!!). You can watch the artwork being made in the studio, which is attached to the retail shop. Obviously, if you can’t find the exact Tassie souvenir you’re after, you can make a special request. With the wave of a flame, these extremely talented women meld colours and shapes into beautiful objects.
Making a glass sheep at the World of Marbles, Sheffield
The World of Marbles contemporary art gallery make other miniature farm animals in their repertoire of marbles. They might also have to branch into fruit and vegetables, given the theme of the 2012 Mural Fest… Food Bowl (a poem by Lorraine McNeair). The golden bloom of fertility lies on the land and feeds us with flavour…
Tasmanian souvenirs: glass marbles from Sheffield
I would definitely recommend including Sheffield in your itinerary whenever you travel to Tasmania. But if you can manage to time a visit over Easter and schedule Mural Fest into the action, all the better! Of course, the World of Marbles will be there anytime, and you can see the current work in Mural Park for the following year.
Map of Sheffield, Tasmania
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Great article about Sheffield and Muralfest. Thanks
You’re welcome, Mr Mayor!! Glad you liked it.
what a great rendition of your travels down under, we would love for you to be living in Sheffield,you have great understanding of what is before your eyes. WELL DONE, and please visit us again. thank you for your kind words. Sheffield. Tasmania.