McNamara’s artwork is a part of a public art project commissioned for the Marcoola-Surfair shopping strip.
“As a child, I have recollections of ‘the big drive’ along the sandtrack behind the dunes we now know as Marcoola, and the unlikely construction of the Surfair,” McNamara said.
The large mural was funded by traders and the Marcoola community. Measuring 3 meters by 4 meters, the piece is a vivid tribute to the culture of the coastal region.
“For this mural, I portray a local narrative as a beach tableaux and have drawn inspiration from the site itself and its contemporary history,” McNamara said. “The entire area was originally an exposed, open plain of incredible wild flowers with the David Low Way running parallel to the open beach and around the airport runway.”
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The mural is an explosion of color. A large manta ray cruises the sky alongside a plane and helicopter. A slice of nightlife, including dancing and music, cuts into an idyllic beach scene comprised of waves and figures of surfers.
“I took a look back into my past and have recalled what the area was about during the 1970s and ’80s,” McNamara said.
Murals are an important testament to history and place, preserving the sights and feelings certain establishments elicited. Take a class on mural painting today to further explore this essential and accessible artistic genre. Put your mark on history and culture by finding out how you can create a mural in your community..