Frankston get ready for an avalanche of colour - Big Picture Fest is back
The Big Picture Fest (BPF) is returning to Frankston for its 5th year, and is set to light up Frankston again with colourful new murals and masterpieces.
Held March 14 – 20, 16 different street artists will be painting and creating, live on the walls and laneways of Frankston throughout the festival, harnessing our vibrancy as an evolving outdoor gallery. After this year’s event, there will be over 50 incredible pieces throughout the city, cementing our reputation as an iconic street art destination.
Here’s your go to guide for this year’s ‘fest plus a few cool event facts you that might surprise you?
All the artists want to paint Frankston
Fun Fact: 10 Scissor Lifts, 9 ladders and 1 Boom will be needed to help the artists create their life size murals.
The 16 artists that are taking part in this year’s Big Picture Fest come from all parts of the country and globe. They’ve all either been invited to come, or they’ve expressed a desire to be part of the event.
They’ll begin painting Monday March 14th, so if you’re in the city, take a wander around and you’ll begin to see some of the art take shape. It’s a great way to see how they create these murals and the artistic techniques they use. Here are some artists to look out for when you’re exploring the city.
Benjamin Knock will be painting a unique site in Gallery Lane and laying over Augmented Reality (AR), bringing his artwork to life in the heart of Frankston. Adnate has worked closely with indigenous people of their native land, especially with Indigenous Australians. He paints large scale murals around Australia and the world, and will also be creating something pretty special in Gallery Lane.
Last year Refuz was assisting Julian Clavijo, in the well-known life sized whale artwork, ‘The Messenger’, that’s become a local favourite. He will now be painting his own large scale wall and sharing his immense talent in Arthurs Lane.
@Bondtruluv an Urban and multimedia artist from Germany, Is currently creating a site specific AR work for Frankston Train Station, and we’ve heard it’s going to be pretty incredible. Bond TruLuv, has an artistic map that features murals and exhibitions all over Europe, Africa and especially Asia. We’re so stoked we can now add Frankston to that list.
If you’re keen to see where the artists will be painting, you’ll find the map here
The Block Party – the ultimate ‘fest celebration
Fun Fact: On average, around 300 litres of paint and 300 spray cans are used throughout the week of the Big Picture Fest.
Friday night will kick off with an epic Block Party in one of Frankston’s most colourful laneways, Thompson’s Lane. Entry is free, and the vibe is chilled. There will be twilight tours running which will end at the party, where you'll see some of the street artists in action, painting live.
There will be drinks on hand from JimmyRum, Mr Little Cider and Dainton Brewery and food trucks to keep the belly’s full. Need a pick me up? Just nearby, the crew from Commonfolk will be there for your caffeine hit too as well as cheeky gin and tonics or wine.
The Block Party Stage Line-up will feature DJ FX playing Hip Hop, Soul and Funk with family friendly vibes. Velvet Bloom, Henry Wagons and The Marlenes will also be taking to the stage.
Our hot tip? Once it gets dark, make sure you have your camera nearby for when the street performers, Born in a Taxi appear.
Street Art Walking Tours – FREE – the best way to see the murals
Fun Fact: Through BPF 2021, 22 tours were run over the festival, with around 200 people taking part!
Here’s your chance to experience Australia's BEST Street Art Tour for FREE during the Big Picture Fest!
If you're keen to know more about the artwork then a street art walking tour is a must. The 90 minute guided tours will run throughout the weekend, taking you past many of the artworks in progress to see first-hand how they are created. You’ll learn about the design process, gain an insight into the stories behind the artistic inspirations, and you may even get to have a chat to an artist or capture a memorable photo.
The tours will run Friday – Sunday, running every hour, on the hour. BUT they often sell out so make sure you book quickly.
Creativity becomes part of our Community
Fun Fact: 35 local students, and 3 teachers will have the chance to create murals with 3 street artists.
One of the best parts of the Big Picture Fest is the collaborations it has with some of our local schools. Each year, students get the chance to tap into the creativity and talent of a prominent street artists, getting hands on guidance to help them create a mural that not only forms part of the festival, but also creates something they’re pretty proud of. Working with the artists, the students get the chance to have a permanent impact on the landscape of Frankston, adding their own splash of colour to our walls.
This year Monterey Secondary Collage will be working with world class artist Ghostpatrol and Melanie Caple re-joins the festival in 2022 as lead artist and guide for a collaborative wall with Frankston High School. Baxter, an artist born and raised in Glasgow Scotland, who now resides in Melbourne, will be creating with McClelland Collage. An incredible opportunity for our local kids.
The Big Picture Fest will be colouring the streets of Frankston from March 14-20. To discover more about the artists, Block Party and tours, head to https://www.discoverfrankston.com/events/the-big-picture-fest
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