The River Runs Through Javna Umjetnost by Beck Storer

The River Runs Through Javna Umjetnost by Beck Storer is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2022 Srebrna nagrada A' Design Award in Dizajn Grafike, Ilustracije i Vizuelne Komunikacije Competition Category.

SrebroGrafika· 2022

The River Runs Through Javna Umjetnost

by Beck Storer

Client: Merbein Arts Group

Srebrna nagrada A' Design Award Winner in Grafika Category

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Verified Award Winner
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Colors

The Design

About The River Runs Through Javna Umjetnost

The River Runs Through je dinamična umjetnička instalacija koja istražuje bogatu priču o vodenim putevima pronađenim u Merbein Common; autohtoni rezervat na rijeci Murray u Viktoriji. Umetničko delo kombinuje tradicionalno oslikavanje murala sa inovativnom digitalnom štampom i predstavljeno je na zidovima stare rashladne šupe, koja je nekada služila za skladištenje voća za fabriku sokova. Noću je to potpuno drugačije iskustvo; napajano suncem umjetničko djelo se pretvara u živopisnu svjetlosnu instalaciju.

The Recognition

About the Srebrna nagrada A' Design Award

The River Runs Through Javna Umjetnost je pobjednik Srebrne nagrade A' Design Award, izuzetno prestižnog priznanja koje se dodjeljuje vrhunskim, veličanstvenim i impresivnim dizajnima. Srebrni pobjednici iznimno su briljantna i vrlo kreativna djela koja ilustriraju izuzetnu stručnost, talent i oštroumnost svojih dizajnera. Očekuje se da The River Runs Through Javna Umjetnost bude divno, reprezentativno djelo koje je izuzetno profesionalno i duboko inovativno. Ovaj dizajn koji je osvojio Srebrnu nagradu A' Design Award vrlo je zapažen, nadaleko cijenjen izum koji koristi i pomjera granice umjetnosti, nauke, dizajna i tehnologije. The River Runs Through Javna Umjetnost je kreacija kojoj se mnogi dive i zavide, koja budi želje, donosi pozitivne osjećaje i raspiruje čuđenje i divljenje.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: In 6 months the project was fully funded by the Merbein community, a population just shy of 3000 people. Over $30,000 was raised from individuals and businesses, during an unprecedented year of many challenges due to Covid lockdowns.

From a creative perseptive, the artwork combines traditional mural painting with innovative digital printing and is presented on the walls of an old refrigerated storage shed, which was once used to store fruit for a juice factory. At night it is a totally different experience - powered by the sun the artwork is transformed into a colourful light installation.
Dimensions & Packaging: The project is big.

Covering over 350 square metres the installation used over 200 litres of paint to transform the space. In addiiton to the traditional mural painting an innovative digital printing technique was used to transfer the abstract wave to the service. Like a huge sticker, this graphic was delicately positionedn with millmetre perfection to present a detail element to the mural and took 2 days to install.
Tags: public art, mural art, projection art, graphic design, graphics, colour,
Production Technology: Creating a point of difference to the project, at night the artwork is powered by the sun by 3 large solar panel RGB floodlights which transforms it into a dynamic colourful light installation.

In addition to the public art installation a series of communication assets were created. This included a website and social media strategy to share the development to the community which created interest and engagement from the broader Victorian mallee area. An interpretative signage display with included a QR code link to a Google map - encouraging people to visit the Merbein Common and the Murray River themselves. And a series of limited printed posters and promotional postcards to promote the township of Merbein as a major public art tourist attraction in the area.
Design Challenge: Challenges arouse to ensure the surface was cleaned and suitable for the artwork, as over the years the old shed became quite deteriorated. This was solved by an intensive cleaning process of power sanding over 90 square metres of the sheds metal service and cleaning the entire site with a sustainable cleaning element and jet water pressure washes.
Research: The aim of the project? To totally reinvigorate an old unused area into a new shared public space through the beauty of large scale public art.

Started by goodwill, infused by community investment and delivered through design, the artwork has reignited the community with confidence, pride and ownership of a truly unique piece of public art that has transformed an unused area into an inspiring outdoor public space.

The River Runs Through is the only large scale public artwork in the Sunraysia region and has now established Merbein as a predominant public art destination.

It has created new opportunities to promote Merbein as a tourist destination and is currently featured on all main local tourist websites, such as Visit Mildura as a major public art attraction in Sunraysia.
Inspiration: The artwork is inspired by the unique landscape of the Australian outback in regional Victoria and the Murray River, the longest river in Australia.

It pays homage to a particular area on the Murray known as the Merbein Common. The Merbein Common is a floodplain reserve, nestled in a bend of the Murray River just north-west of Mildura.

It is made up of a series of nationally significant wetlands, such as Cowanna Billabong.
Project Duration: The River Runs Through is located at 80 Game Street Merbein, Victoria Australia and is permanently displayed for the public.
Operation Flow: The public can view the art installation both during the day and night.
Team Members: Beck Storer, Travis McGowan, Moose McGowan
Image Credits: Photography: Aaron Hawkins