By Christine de Kock
ARTIST Pol McMahon will host an exhibition featuring iconic sites in Yarraville and Footscray at MREAM studios this Saturday (19 August).
Mr McMahon will hold the exhibition to raise funds to reprint his book of paintings entitled ‘Little Book of Yarraville’.
The book was first published in 2003 and again in 2004.
“I try to do it every year,” he said.
“There’s quite a few local people in it … I try to catch the change in suburbs as people moved in and out of the suburbs.”
His publication features the building on the corner of Ballarat St and Anderson St in Yarraville which changes from the Railway Hotel to the Blarney Stone.
“My show will reflect the book,” he said.
The exhibition will also include a reflection on indigenous plants, it will feature Murnong, yam daisies, which were once consumed by Aboriginal groups in the area.
It will also feature a painting titled: “Billy Button Creek crica 1800”.
The picture shows two Aboriginal men in the foreground walking to a watering hole, which was located in Buckley St, Footscray.
Tufted bluebells, a plant endemic to the area, also feature predominantly in the painting.
“I basically leant to paint through my interest in botany,” Mr McMahon said.
“I use them (flowers) in my paintings because I want future generations to know they are part of our community.”
Mr McMahon’s paintings will sell from $1000 to $50. He will also have prints available.
The exhibition will be held at MREAM studios on 19 August at 7.30 pm.
