Original mural artist Regina Laity-Plex, specialist ceramics conservator Penny Byrne and specialist heritage tiler Michael Hathaway have all been involved in repairing and conserving Benalla’s ceramic mural.
Benalla Rural City Council has confirmed that the conservation of the town’s ceramic mural is progressing well, with works beginning just as the recent floodwaters began to subside.
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The mural was completed in 2010 but began as a community art project in 1983.
The concept was of an open gallery that invited passers-by to rest and reflect, and a space for children to play.
It integrated the skills of traditional potters, the vision of numerous highly regarded visual artists and the enthusiastic contributions of guided amateurs, young and old.
Specialist ceramics conservator Penny Byrne hard at work on part of Benalla’s ceramic mural.
Stage one of conservation works on the mural to repair damage caused by previous flood events were completed last year.
These initial works were deemed urgent and essential to safeguarding this much-loved feature of the Benalla lakeside area and CBD.
Project lead and specialist ceramics conservator Penny Byrne, who returned this August to continue works, said the mural was due for some more care and attention, but it was particularly timely in light of the most recent flood, earlier in August.
“The major contributor to the degradation of the mural has been the flooding that occurs, and when we arrived to begin the conservation, we arrived to a flood,” she said.
“In a way that was good because I knew the floods were an issue, but now I could literally see it first-hand.
“The flood had risen up to about a metre within the mural itself.
“All the remediation work we are doing will help the mural dry out when it does get flooded in the future.”
A final phase of conservation will be carried out from late September to mid-October, after which the team expect that the full mural will be open for the community to enjoy.
The conservation team, which has also encompassed specialist heritage tiler Michael Hathaway, senior conservator Helen Gill and original mural artist Regina Laity-Plex, have also enjoyed interacting with community members who have dropped by to see the work they have been doing.
“We’ve been getting a lot of feedback as we’ve been working,” Ms Byrne said.
“People are coming by and having chats, and they’re just so pleased to see that the mural is being cared for.”
Regina Laity-Plex was one of the original artists and has returned to assist with the important conservation effort.
“Every single tile here was made by hand,” she said.
“It’s in the public realm and susceptible to the elements, which wears and tears on any object, so it needs upkeep to protect it.
“I hope the community will enjoy being able to fully access it again.”
Benalla Art Gallery director Eric Nash said he was grateful for and delighted by the work being done by the conservators.
“The Benalla ceramic mural is a unique landmark, and an artistic accomplishment that tells stories of community drive, artistic invention and innovative placemaking,” he said.
“Its protection is of incredible importance to us, so we are very fortunate to be guided and assisted in this process by such an experienced and knowledgeable team of conservators.”
For more information, call Benalla Rural City Council on 5760 2600.
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