Clarence Valley Independent, 7 June 2023:
Artist Austin NITSUA with the new mural of Yaegl elder Uncle Ron Herron on the River Street pump station in Maclean. Image: Rodney Stevens
When artist Austin NITSUA got word that his stunning portrait of Yaegl elder Uncle Ron Herron that he painted on a River Street Maclean pump station had been graffitied with light coloured paint in August last year he was ‘gutted’.
The street artist and mural creator, who has painted his distinctive illustrations all over Australia, from Byron Bay to giant examples of silo art in South Australia, said he was ready to repaint the mural the week after it was defaced, but the development application process through council delayed progress.
“I was ready to repaint the mural three days after it got hit, but the process has taken nine months to get to this stage,” he said.
Despite this delay, as soon as Nitsua got the go ahead, he and his partner Monique, armed with a ute full of spray paint cans got to work to repaint the mural on Sunday, May 28.
“Originally, before painting the first mural, I went and took photos of Uncle Ron and I had photos of him that were quite similar to the last mural, but I chose this image because he just had a bit more of a grin on his face,” he said.
“I thought it was quite suitable too, to come back with a bit of a grinning smile saying you paint over me, and I’ve come back with a vengeance this time with a warrior ochre.
“I asked the Yaegl mob what the best sort of ochre was I could do, and that is what I’ve done.”
The mural features respected Yaegl Elder Uncle Ron Herron, who has degrees in archaeology and anthropology and lectured at Southern Cross University for 10 years and was awarded a Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) by Macquarie University in 2014….
Full article here.
