A large-scale mural artist will return to his Wheatbelt roots to redecorate the Narrogin Leisure Centre, capturing his childhood memories in paint along with the town’s culture and history.
Born in Narrogin and raised on a Wickepin farm, Jermone Davenport is excited to return home to paint a self-designed mural on Narrogin Leisure Centre’s eastern wall after the Shire of Narrogin selected his proposal from nine applicants.
First proposed in October 2023 by the Townscape Advisory Committee, the Shire of Narrogin Council decided to award the $106,140 project to Davenport at their most recent meeting on July 24.
Davenport and his assistant Adam Cicanese are set to begin painting this November and expect the project to take three to four weeks.
![The provisional concept design included in Davenport's winning proposal shows the kinds of imagery and symbolism that would be included in the final design but is subject to change.](https://timesofsydney.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/59e20fd8518c59b2f99111c5268610077f22fc4c.jpg)
![Davenport will have to paint over pipes, lights, and fans on the 300 square metre canvas.](https://timesofsydney.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2026b877eb88c0b9c5082b9046786d1676636151.jpg)
The artist said he was warmed when offered his first opportunity to create a piece of art near his hometown after 15 years of large-scale work.
Davenport was briefed on broad community elements the shire would like to incorporate but was ultimately given free rein to create a design around his and the locals’ fondest memories and important moments.
“I think you need to be from a farm or country town to appreciate and understand what that’s all about rather than an outsider’s perspective and painting,” he said.
“I hope I encapsulate them as a community, young and old, whatever your interest may be.
“There’s a delicate balance not to make it overcrowded but trying to capture what is important to those in the community.”
The mural will depict the resilience of the community during the 2022 fires, the historical significance of Narrogin’s rail system, the Narrogin Hawks football club, the Wheatbelt community’s rich farming roots, native wildflowers, and an Aboriginal artwork in collaboration with a local artist.
To paint the 300sqm mural, Davenport will either project his design onto the wall or paint a grid on to it and fill it in, starting with exterior rollers to paint the base and then using spray paint for the main design.
![Davenport painted a mural on Pinjarra Junction Shopping Centre in October 2023 depicting the cultural and natural heritage of the Pinjarra area, including journey lines that were traditionally followed to collect food, trade, and travel throughout the Noongar seasons and featuring native elements such as the Nuytsia floribunda.](https://timesofsydney.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/e1f222fcc1f3b22fa0fee786e386819ebbd019ce.jpg)
![The Onslow Water Tanks mural project included three 1600m2 water tanks that represent different elements of the town and this design celebrates the community’s history and heritage.](https://timesofsydney.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/645f2c695176c52da7c672fa63a6fd3724c499fc.jpg)
![The Onslow Water Tanks mural project included three 1600m2 water tanks representing different elements of the town and this design is the other side of the tank that celebrates the community's history and heritage.](https://timesofsydney.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2adab702c5ff0bc098017b267fbd20c8bb621259.jpg)