Renowned local artist Emma Blyth is set to share her unique, bold style once again as part of the 2017 Channel 7 Mandurah Crab Fest.
Preparations are underway for the City of Mandurah’s signature annual event, the 19th Crab Fest, which will be held on March 18 and 19, 2017.
Since its inception in 1999, the festival has become Western Australia’s largest free regional event, attracting more than 120,000 people last year.
Last month, Crab Fest was awarded gold in the Major Festivals and Events category at the 2016 Western Australian Tourism Awards.
The festival continues to encourage and celebrate Mandurah’s thriving arts community, with many local artists displaying their talent in a number of art-focussed competitions and initiatives.
Popular Mandurah artist Emma Blyth has been producing stunning, distinctive artworks for the Mandurah Crab Fest since the beginning, and this year is no exception.
Emma’s inspiration for the 2017 artwork has taken a nostalgic feel, featuring the Old Mandurah Traffic Bridge.
“This year’s work was quite a special piece for me,” Ms Blyth said.
“Mandurah‟s 62 year old traffic bridge – which locals affectionately refer to as The Old Bridge, is being replaced due to reaching its use-by date.
“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.
“The bridge brings back a lot of fond memories for the locals of Mandurah. Family days of fishing and crabbing under it, jumping off it with friends and just walking over it.”
Mayor Marina Vergone said the City was delighted to again have Emma on board to create the vibrant artworks, which had become synonymous with the Crab Fest.
“The City is proud to support local, home-grown talent for our signature annual event,” she said.
“Emma’s works are colourful, fun, interesting and uniquely Mandurah, and we are so thrilled to have her on board with this project once again.”
In the past few years, the sale of Ms Blyth’s work has raised more than $12,000 for various charities.
Emma’s original artwork will be auctioned online with all proceeds going to charity, and will be available to view at Emma’s gallery in the Smart Street Mall and at her art marquee on the Crab Fest weekend.
For more information about Emma Blyth’s artworks go to emmablyth.com.au or to keep up to date with festival details, go to crabfest.com.au.