Find out what's behind the Maroochydore cover up
Someone is wiping out the good news in Maroochydore and they're doing it every day. Find out why.
Alison Mooney is a public artist whose works adorn the buildings and walls of the Sunshine Coast. You've probably seen her up a ladder, covered in paint, creating the most amazing large scale murals.
For the past week, she's been sharing her response to current events via her daily mural project in Duporth Street, Maroochydore as part of Horizon 25 on from 2-11 May.
Each day she chooses a topic and sets to work, treating passers to her impressive creations, which they get to experience brush stroke by brush stroke.
And then they're gone, to become not quite yesterday's chip paper, but the understory to her latest daily muse.
Artist Q & A with Alison Mooney
What can people expect from The Daily Muse?
10 murals in 10 days on one wall. Each one is a collaboration with an artist/s who inspire me – from my favourite comedians to a marching band, an amazing dancer and brilliant visual artists. It could be a brown, wet mess … hopefully not. We paint from 2pm daily during Horizon.
What are you looking forward to the most about the festival?
So much, but especially as we paint our collabs, being based on the Duporth St entry to Big Top, I’m super keen to see the other installations that make up Urban Gallery – so much to see on one site
What’s next on your Horizon?
I’m in development for an installation exploring the presence of male vulnerability in our public identity, here in Australia – thanks to Artscoast Future Now initiative.
If you were to describe how it feels to be an artist on the Sunshine Coast, what would you say?
It feels connected and supportive – I’ve got great playmates here in the Arts and the growing comedy scene here, as well as some really trusting clients and collaborators . Love it. It can also feel isolating and hopeless, but not often.
As a regional location, how does it compare to the rest of Australia and/or overseas, what are the benefits and challenges?
There’s opportunity for artists to develop here – in the network, the development offerings from Council and the structures that have been built for the development of artists on the Sunshine Coast is second to actually none.
The challenges are really in audience development – but we’re getting there, just a few years behind the audiences of the big cities, etc.
If you could live anywhere on the Coast where would it be and why?
I live in Coolum and love it. Its geographically the centre (ish) of the coast, and culturally too, I think –we’re somewhere between Noosa national parks/ mi goreng van life vibes and the jet-ski-hugging shoey-boys, etc. But, chilled out, with vegetables, in a family town.
What support have you received locally, especially in the past couple of years?
Loads. I’m a fulltime artist and do a lot of work locally – in murals and painting commissions, but I get great support in my artist and comedy friends, I’m always amazed at the development opportunities on offer through Council – I do bang on about it – but its unheard of.
I’ve been really stoked to be involved in projects like Future Now, 2nd Space, the Refinery, The Path … the network + momentum they offer, and have done for like 8 years, is invaluable.
How would you describe your work to others?
Studio works are a meditation, public works are a disruption.
Which audiences do you feel enjoy your work the most?
One gallery I work with describes me as ‘an artists’ artist’ … I took that to mean art lovers. Which I mean, is a pretty rubbish answer sorry.
About the Urban Gallery
This work is part of the Horizon Festival Precinct, where you're invited to wander and wonder through our Urban Gallery every day of Horizon 2025.
Suitable for all ages, this free-to-enjoy 10-day art-trail will feature inspiring work from visionary Queensland and Australian contemporary artists, including First Nations artists.
Step into the future with a selection of works that explore the cutting edge of creativity. From AI-powered theatre and shadow-play installations to data-driven storytelling, this part of the program is all about art, innovation and interaction.
Pigeon Fool
Pigeon Fool, created by Counterpilot, is a theatrical Turing Test meets game show, exploring humanness in the midst of the AI revolution. Developed in collaboration with local AI experts at Soulbotix, this new interactive tabletop theatre work blends cunning algorithms and virtual beings, to put its audience to the test.
Shadowgram
Shadowgram invites audiences to contribute to a wall of ideas expressed through shadows and words. A community-focused project inspired by 19th-century photogenic drawings, bringing this unique image-making process to the digital age.
Stasis
Stasis combines generative art and data visualisation as a medium for expressing complex human stories, fostering connection, and building understanding and compassion across communities.
Tokyo Rain
Step into the neon-lit dreamscape of Tokyo Rain, a bold reimagining and deconstruction of Mary Eggleston & Nycole Prowse’s narrative screenplay. Writer and performance artist Mary Eggleston joins forces with multimedia artist Möbius to dismantle and rebuild the story anew – melding past, present, and future in a multi-sensory journey.
Act as known
Vernon Ah Kee presents his new work, building upon and extending his long-term project — Dark & Disturbing. Dark & Disturbing is a curatorial and creative project that explores Aboriginal sensibilities around knowledge, identity, and protest. Dark & Disturbing interrogates power structures and provides a platform for Aboriginal voice.
Light Line – Kabi Kabi Country
Light Line is two new First Nations music works, which embed sound at two specific locations, one on Kabi Kabi and one on Jinibara Country — capturing the majic in the changing light of dusk and dawn.
View the program, buy tickets or register for events on the Horizon website.