Frankston wakes up to joy thanks to new Tree of Dreams mural

Published on 02 July 2021

There’s no missing the sense of joy in artist Sara Catena’s striking new mural titled Tree of Dreams adorning Frankston’s Clyde Street Mall.

Sparkling with colourful pink, red, green and more, Tree of Dreams features a range of colourful animals, an evocative tree and swing for people to “sit on” while taking selfies.

Ms Catena said that while the world felt like a different place at the moment, Tree of Dreams is a powerful reminder that within all of us there is still joy if we allow ourselves to feel it.

“It is a mindful moment to dip into that place of joy within, a place of love and hope – a reminder to dream of a positive future.

“The visuals in Tree of Dreams are the setting of childhood – a timeless moment of bare feet, blue skies and limitless dreaming. A time when anything was possible. What if you could return to that place time and place again just for a moment?”

Ms Catena urged visitors and visitors to head to the Clyde St Mall to experience the joy in the mural and “dream away”

Deputy Mayor Nathan Conroy said the mural was created thanks to funding via the State Government’s Department of Jobs Precincts and Regions and reflects the transformation and regeneration of Frankston City.

The State Member for Frankston, Paul Edbrooke MP, said: “As part of the Vacant Shopfront Activation program #repaintfrankston the Tree of Dreams mural is another unique and wonderful installation in the vibrant and continually growing artscape Frankston has to offer.”

Cr Conroy added: “Along with a soon to be launched pop up shop program for Clyde Street Mall the mural aims to enhance foot traffic and visitation for this beautified thoroughfare.

“Temporary artworks will also be going onto vacant shopfronts in the mall to create interest for prospective tenants.”

Cr Conroy said the artworks were being completed as part of the Vacant Shopfront Activation Program #repaintfrankston, adding: “Local artists will be creating murals on windows and walls of vacant shops in central Frankston to help activate our shopfronts and entice new businesses to occupy the spaces.

“We’re offering a range of grants including Vacant Shopfront Activation Grants. Council in partnership with the Victorian Government are offering a new grant program specifically to attract new businesses to vacant shopfronts across the city.

“The Grant is designed to financially assist with transforming properties into confident, sustainable and attractive spaces that create new business for Frankston City and surrounding suburbs,” Cr Conroy said.

The Deputy Mayor said that Ms Catena’s mural complemented the recently launched ‘Mall of Fame’ at the Clyde Street Mall.

Twenty-three local heroes, with remarkable records in philanthropy, public service, medicine, business, literature, sport, media, entertainment and technology have been recognised with ‘Mall of Fame’ pavers.

The new Clyde St Mall of Fame is a new home for the former Frankston City Hall of Fame.

Cr Conroy said: “Frankston is going from strength to strength and I can’t wait to see what other artists create as part of #repaintfrankston.”

The upgraded Clyde Street Mall is the latest in a series of completed mall upgrades, including stage two of the adjacent Station Street Mall. Both projects, valued at a total of $1.37 million, were delivered as part of the Connecting Malls Projects, which gives residents better pathways between their homes and the urban amenities of Frankston.