Artwork Description
It was a lovely experience to re-live because it remains one of my favourites and was the first inspiring community art mural I ever did. It taught me the importance of including local people to create something meaningful. It was great to go back there and have the opportunity to redo it – it felt like I was re-affirming my wedding vows!
– Peter Day, 2012
This mural painted by Peter Day and members of the community depicts a bush scene with Australian flora and fauna. The names of the flora and fauna are written along the base of the mural. The mural has a predominantly blue background with green bush land. Day was appointed Artist-in-Residence in Surry Hills in 1981 through a grant from the NSW Premiers Department.
The basic concept of the work was to camouflage the existing white wall to make it merge with the surrounding trees, grass and sky. Painting commenced 3 January, 1981 and, as the work progressed, local residents were surprised when they saw a section of Nickson Street disappear into native bush land and a series of colourful birds and animals appear.
The mural was repainted in 2012 by Peter Day and members of the local community, some of whom had been involved in the creation of the original work. In total the mural includes almost 40 species of birds, four dogs, a cat and some local residents.