Rochester’s life-like series of native wildlife silo paintings is now complete, with artist Jimmy Dvate finishing the platypus silo during the weekend.
The life-like platypus painting now stands alongside the kingfisher and squirrel glider silos, which have become beacons in the centre of the town, adding further to the attraction of Rochester as part of the Victorian silo art trail.
Dvate, a Melbourne-based artist who has built a strong connection to Rochester through his artwork, had his challenges during the completion of the platypus piece.
Extreme heat and storm conditions made Sunday’s completion of the project worthy of celebration.
Dvate used a grid system to paint the silo, dividing each section by using the panels of the silo.
There was a constant stream of onlookers, both from within the Campaspe Shire and visitors, during his three weeks of work.
With several platypus sightings in the Campaspe River the artwork has gained wide acclaim, fittingly at a time when the platypus is at the centre of discussions in regard to its endangered species status.
Dvate, as a teenager, was a well-known graffiti artist in Melbourne, before he attended Monash University as a graphic design student and then travelled to London for work.
He has had a dedicated group of volunteers from the Rochester community working as a support network, including Rochester Community House’s Amanda Logie.
Meagan Keating, a key player in the driving of projects such as the silo in Rochester, said the community house boss was now referred to as “Uber Amanda” as she regularly took lunch to the artist.
For much of the three weeks Dvate was suspended above the ground in the cherry picker attempting to finish his latest work in the town.
The silos now complement the regular projections on to the Murray Goulburn factory, the wood carvings, the mural work and Iddles Lane Mural as artistic features of the town.
The next big event for Rochester will be its Twilight Markets, conducted by the Rochester Business Network on Friday, December 10, from 5pm to 8pm.