Following our relaxing break amongst the lakes, we steered in a westerly direction, towards the promise of open skies and golden fields. Our travels led us to Lascelles, Victoria, a small town with a big secret – or rather, a big artwork.
The landscape surrounding Lascelles is, as you'd expect, dominated by agriculture. Vast fields stretch to the horizon, and the grain silos are a constant reminder of the region's lifeblood. But these aren't just any silos. These are canvases. Specifically, the GrainCorp silos, transformed into a remarkable piece of art by the artist Rone.
We were immediately struck by the sheer scale of the artwork. It is impossible to miss when arriving in the area. The mural depicts Geoff and Merrilyn Horman, local farmers whose family has been part of the Lascelles community for generations. Rone spent two weeks working on the silos in 2017, creating what we both think is a stunning tribute to rural life. The work is not just a painting; it's a portrait of a community.
While marveling at the silos, we also took the time to read about the story behind the artwork on an information board beside them.
It detailed the artist's process and the connection he forged with the Hormans. The Silo Art Trail provides insight into the true character of the Wimmera Mallee, telling the stories of farming communities and the people through a series of large-scale murals, dating back to the 1930s.
It's a testament to the power of art to transform not just a landscape, but a community's sense of place. It's not every day you see such a grand and evocative portrait etched against the big sky of the Mallee. The silos at Lascelles are not just a place to store grain; they're a place where art and community converge.