Artists and local young people transform Moore Park Skate Bowl

Published on 10 November 2022

Mike Shankster and Arina Apostolova recently completed a giant artwork in Queanbeyan’s Moore Park Skate Bowl as part of a project with Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council and local young people.

The project was funded through the NSW Department of Communities & Justice Youth Opportunities Program and incorporated several workshops with locals aged 11 to 25.

Mike and Arina introduced the group to a broad range of skills from consultation to concept design, planning and finally, the hands-on hard work of painting a large-scale mural.

Mike said that, ‘over 200 litres of paint were used to transform more than 500 square metres of tired skate park into the giant artwork’.

‘The artwork shows a common childhood memory we can all relate to in bold blocks of colour.’

The design, featuring a kid snacking on hot chips at the local skatepark with a visiting kookaburra, also pays homage to local Queanbeyan boy - turned international pro skater, Jack Fardell.

The upgraded skate park will be used by Council’s community team to host future activities with young people.

Mike said that the scale of the project really needed to be seen to be believed. ‘The immense scale of this artwork is best appreciated in person, or from the air.’

The artists shared a special thanks to the dedicated people who worked on this project including, the Step Up Sisters Aboriginal girls group and Clontarf Boys Academy from Karabar High School.