Well-known Mandurah artist Emma Blyth has always been dedicated to capturing impressions of her hometown, and this year her artwork for the annual Crab Fest charity auction renders a piece of local history into paint.
Her acrylic and gold leaf painting depicts the 62-year-old traffic bridge, which will disappear from the Mandurah landscape in the coming months.
“This year’s work was quite a special piece for me… Mandurah’s traffic bridge – which locals affectionately refer to as ‘the Old Bridge’ is being replaced due to reaching its use-by date,” Blyth said.
“I have painted this piece as a classic old bridge memorabilia work using natural colours, gold leaf and of course our good old blue manna crab swimming under it.”
Blyth has been involved with the Mandurah Crab Fest since 1999, and has painted 14 original artworks for the event.
“It is an awesome showcase for our city and feel so honored to be a part of it,” she said.
This year all proceeds from the auction will go towards supporting students and families in crisis at Mandurah Primary School, particularly to pay for uniforms, stationary, excursions, and school activities that these families may not be able to fund otherwise.
Blyth has conducted a number of workshops at the school before, and said she knew first-hand how much some of the students needed those funds.
“In the past we’ve raised money for big organisations like Telethon… this year I wanted to do something more local,” she said.
The artwork will be on display at Mandurah Crab Fest on the Eastern Foreshore on March 18-19, in Blyth’s marquee, where other original works, prints and art gifts will be shown.
The artwork went up for auction online on Thursday, with bidding open until Sunday March 19 at crabfest.com.au/auction/