By Callum Ludwig
Since August 2021, Millgrove residents have been out with their phones and cameras capturing the town from all angles.
Their photos are all set to be a part of the community art and projection lightshow event Art Attack, with photos to be shown in the night sky and cast onto buildings in Millgrove on Saturday 9 April.
Project manager and Warburton artist and photographer Suzanne Phoenix said hundreds of photos have been submitted from all over the town.
“From the birds, flowers and insects, to the river signs and buildings, and the shops and wood mill, it’s everything that is iconic for Millgrove,” she said.
“We were able to run a couple of photo walks, and there was lots of conversation, wandering around taking photos and discovering new bits of Millgrove.”
Richard Andrew of ARIA awarding winning band Underground Lovers, has composed the music to accompany the projections, inspired by the photographs of Millgrove.
Ms Phoenix said the challenges prompted by Covid-19 restrictions are lockdowns changed the shape of the project.
“I wasn’t anticipating the need to shift and be quite dynamic, I wasn’t sure how people would respond to doing it all online,” she said.
“I’m really pleased with the number of people who’ve been engaged and even those who don’t necessarily want to submit a photo but want to see it.”
It is a free event but bookings are essential to be part of 1 of the 4 walking tours between 6pm and 10pm. Tickets are almost sold out.
Ms Phoenix said the community involvement sets the event apart from others.
“When you’ve got dozens and dozens of people contributing to a project, and people who might never have contributed to an art project before, it can only be hundreds of times better than if it was done by one person standing alone,” she said.
“A project like this removes barriers as well, to access and be involved in things. This might be the one-off opportunity where for someone it might be the start of something greater.”
