Painted utes aim to change our landscape

PARKES CHAMPION POST Wednesday, July 23, 2008
by Karen Tooth Condobolin Argus

Shane Gehlert’s impressive painted ute ‘Epitaph to Fossil Fuels’ was one of the first pieces completed at Burrawang West station at Ootha. Photos: Condobolin Argus

Shane creates ‘Epitaph to Fossil Fuels’

Popular artist Shane Gehlert was the second to complete his contribution to Burrawang’s ‘Utes in a Paddock’. In this work called ‘Epitaph to Fossil Fuels’, Shane used his famous metallic Macropod (chrome Kangaroo) against an outback setting sun on the back canopy of the ute. The ute has been stood upright on its tail with two petrol bowsers on each side with pipes running into the sky. St Bilby is featured on the bonnet. Shane’s paintings are a strange combination of realism, fantasy art,sci-fi, surrealism and political satire. Formerly from Broken hill, Shane said the vibrant colours and clear blue skies are reminiscent of his time spent in the ‘outback’ of Australia. Shane mostly works from his studio in Mooloolah, Queensland and he specially undertook the day and a half drive to Burrawang in order to be part of the project.‘I’m normally sceptical of these sort of projects but in this case I’m definitely on board with Graham’s ideas.‘A good friend of mine Steven Lee in Parkes encouraged me to look at the Burrawang project. Plus John Murray said the project was ground breaking and would raise the profile of outback art.’ Shane’s unique works are held in private and corporate collections all around the world. His work has featured in many media publications, books and television shows, both in Australia and internationally. Shane’s work can be seen at www.outbackart.com.au

Artist John Murray and Burrawang Station owner Graham Pickles are pictured with one of John’s utes that will be on display.

‘Scallywag’ third artist involved

Famous Aussie ‘scallywag’ artist Peter Browne already known as the Vegemite Man or Volkswagen Man is now also known as the ‘Burrawang ute man’. He is the third artist to participate in the eye popping ute painting project. Peter was born in 1947 at West Wyalong (although claiming to have been found under a sheet of tin near Rankin Springs) and spent his early years on a sheep property at Geogilderie on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River, dodging snakes mustering sheep and catching fish, as he puts it. Peter Browne’s art reflects the humour of the bushman (he says there are three main ingredients; humour, Aussie flavour, and emus) and his work can be seen at www.peterbrowne.com.au He has his own art gallery at Silverton just outside Broken Hill and has now ‘retired’ to continue painting at Salamander bay. Just like any other Aussie exposed to the Australian bush in the way Peter has been he reckons ‘never let a chance go by when something is happening’. ‘Maybe every single farm could display a ute. Even if it is a small letterbox one or one painted by the farmer’s kids. It would provide a lot of entertainment.’ And what of the Burrawang West Resort? Well, Peter says it is a great place to stay. ‘The beds are hard to get out of as they are so comfortable.’

A start has been made on a paddock full of uniquely painted utes at Burrawang West station at Ootha, west of Parkes.
Burrawang West Station owner, Graham Pickles, is behind the push to promote Australian outback art and his vision is to display 12 utes painted and interpreted by 12 famous Australian outback artists. He hopes a Wiradjuri artist will be involved to link the project back to the community.

Graham said, ‘It’ll become a destination for tourists and the local community will benefit.’ Visitors will be able to turn off the Condobolin - Parkes road down the Mulguthrie turnoff and see from the roadside, the uniquely decorated utes mounted in different positions.

The project is expected to become a major tourist attraction benefiting not only Parkes but Forbes and Condobolin as well.
Burrawang West Station is officially in the Forbes Shire but is closer to Conbobolin and is also serviced by Parkes. Indeed, many products are sourced from Parkes and a high number of station visitors fly with Rex through the Parkes airport.

One of the commonly used products is Ploughman’s Hill Olives. Burrawang West provides Ploughman’s Hill Olive products to all of its guests in each of its suites, utilizing soap, shampoo, moisturizers etc.Owner Graham Pickles is developing the painted ute project himself, but not without a great deal of assistance from local mechanics and panel beaters.
Steve Lee (from the local band, The Lees and the Parkes Art Gallery) has also been helping to liaise with various
Australian artists who have been commissioned to paint the utes.

Parkes, Lachlan (Condobolin) and Forbes shires will be working together to promote this iconic attraction, with the aim of securing more overnight visitors to the town and encourage intra-regional travel. Graham’s idea sprung from his recent USA road trip with his wife, Jana.‘We were driving along Route 66 when we came across the Cadillac Ranch. This guy had ten 1959 Cadillacs stuck [vertically] in the ground and all lined up with graffiti on them,’ he said.The couple liked the Cadillac Ranch but thought they could do it better and enlisted John Murray as the first artist. John is well known for his fun paintings and photo realist style and exhibits extensively throughout Australia. He has his own gallery in Lightning Ridge painted the first Holden ute to promote outback art and tourism.

‘This project excites me,’ John said. ‘It’ll be good for tourism.’‘Mine is lifted off the ground with a resin galah suspended above it – playing on that great Aussie bush bashing term - ‘circle work’,’ John said. He painted his ute a brilliant sky blue with egg white clouds. Colours so similar to nature that the ute blends into the landscape with ‘a nice flurry of galah pink hovering over it,’ John said.

Condobolin mechanic, Mick Taylor has been travelling the country side searching for the old iconic Holden utes for the artists to paint. He became very enthused about the project when he discovered that John Murray was going to paint his precious ‘HQ’ as he already is a fan of John’s art and has one of his paintings. Tourism Australia and Tourism New South Wales are expected to give their support.

The artists are donating their time to the project but more vehicles are needed. If you have a Holden ute that’s dusty and hidden away – get it out and be part of this latest tourist attraction. ‘Come out west and have some fun,’ Graham said. ‘It’ll be an unique attraction!’

If any readers have an older style Holden ute body in good order, please call Graham Pickles on 0418 112 888 or Mick Taylor.