Camilleri St Skate Park Connects Community Through Art

After a long stretch of confusion, fury and heartache, The Camilleri Street Skatepark wall mural has been completed for a second time, in hopes of creating an artwork that can be enjoyed by all for years to come.

Originally from Canada, artist Anita Laura now calls Mackay home with a passion for art and a love for the community, she emphasises that art, is something everyone can connect with on their own personal level.

Anita's aim with the Camilleri Street skatepark wall mural is to instil a sense of ownership for skatepark users and community members alike while encouraging all to enjoy public spaces and appreciate the local art.

Inspired by the local area, Anita created a piece that includes features of Shoal Point beach at low tide mixed with a perspective of skateboarders rolling into space to remind us of the connections that form around us.

“I tried to create a piece that included elements of the Northern Beaches, with the coral, the tides and the moon in there. I thought it’d be fun to be skateboarding up into space for the people who use the ramp,” Anita explained.

“The constellations remind us that we can each be a light in our corner and we’re all connected, and I just thought the hand with the tech deck was a bit fun to include because it makes the scale of the park suddenly seem miniature when you see the hand riding a tech deck on the skatepark.

“It’s lovely to be a part of a project that created something good out of something sad that happened.

“I just love that people can enjoy murals whether or not they know the backstory and hopefully the mural can be enjoyed by everyone,” she said.

The original artwork at Camilleri Street Skate Park was commissioned after the death of Northern Beaches teenager Will Baker, whose motorcycle collided with a courtesy bus in a tragic accident near the community of Blacks Beach.
The community had originally raised money to for the Baker family. The family said they would love to see those funds go back into community in a way everyone could enjoy. The idea for a mural at the skatepark ignited and the community rallied behind it. Unfortunately, due to miss-communication the artist began the work without the necessary council permits, so the original artwork was painted over back to a blank canvas. With the proper council permits, Anita has been able to beautify this place and see the community initiative come to life.

Anita reflects on the project's positive transformation, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to paint the mural, despite it being her first-time spray-painting. While she previously worked with acrylics and screen painting for murals at the birth centre and Fifth Lane, this experience marked her first attempt at spray painting, which she executed brilliantly.
The project has been a community-driven endeavour, met with joy and enthusiasm from locals who share one thing in common, an admiration for artwork and a sense of pride for the skatepark within the Northern Beaches community.

Members of the community are invited to attend the official Camilleri St Skate Park Festival on June 1st, from 2-5 pm at the Grind Shrine Skateboard Shop event, featuring live music, a skateboarding competition, learn-to-skate sessions, and art workshops - all free of charge, promising to be an exciting celebration of creativity and skate culture for all to enjoy.
You can find more of Anita’s artwork on Instagram and Facebook at: Anita Laura Art.

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