Source : PERTHNOW NEWS
Subiaco locals will have a chance to uncover the stories behind the murals, laneways and hidden artistic gems they may have simply walked past hundreds of times as part of art walking tours starting this month.
See Subiaco has partnered with local walking company Oh Hey WA to deliver a series of guided experiences from Halloween through to Christmas, with everything from family friendly art hunts to gallery visits and festive bar crawls.
Oh Hey WA founder Adie Chapman, who describes herself as Perth’s “chief art enthusiast”, said the tours were designed to help people rediscover an area they thought they already knew.
“Subi’s laneways are full of stories most people walk straight past, and these tours are our way of encouraging people to slow down and notice the beauty around them,” she said.
“Partnering with See Subiaco again means we get to connect people with the art, the artists, the galleries and the local venues that make this creative precinct so special.”
The partnership is in its third year and aims to connect residents with the stories behind Subiaco’s public art, including the artists’ inspiration, techniques and the often-overlooked spaces where their work can be found.
Ms Chapman said the tours encouraged people to step away from the main streets and explore the murals tucked away in carparks and laneways.
“Normally we’re just rushing from place to place, or walking down the same streets that you always walk down, and you don’t actually stop to look around and appreciate what’s around you,” she said.
“And that’s what walking tours do. It forces you to slow down and immerse yourself in a place and notice things that you might have walked past hundreds of times and never seen before.”
One of the highlights will be the Murals and Markets series, which will run on Saturdays throughout November, with guided walks exploring the stories behind Subiaco’s street art before finishing at the Subi Night Markets.
The first tour, on November 7, will feature WA artist Graeme Miles Richards at his Xania Lane mural, where he is expected to paint during the tour.
Visitors will have an opportunity to see the artist work and learn more about the details hidden throughout his murals.
A second artist-led tour on November 21 will feature muralist Jerome Davenport, also known as Ketones6000, whose work includes a large stained-glass-inspired mural on Olive Street.
Mr Davenport is also one of the founders of Blank Walls, which helped deliver Subiaco’s street art festival in October 2024 when 11 murals were painted across the areas.
Ms Chapman said meeting artists and hearing directly about their creative processes was one of the most rewarding parts of the tours.
“They might see a mural finished, or they might see paintings hanging on a wall in a gallery, but to actually get to hear from the artists themselves and meet them and get a little Q&A, it’s super special,” she said.
The program will also introduce a Shenton Park gallery experience, which is a new three-hour tour during which attendees will visit three distinct galleries on November 15 and 22.
The experience will include a visit to Linton and Kay Galleries, The Orangery where gallery owner Mark Coghlan will perform on piano, and SAVA — a contemporary gallery blending street art and fine art.
Ms Chapman said the experience would offer a different perspective on the local arts scene.
“It’s quite a cool, limited edition, special experience,” she said.
The tours will kick off with two Halloween experiences as part of Subiaco’s Spookiaco celebrations.
Stories and Spirits on Friday, October 30, will offer adults a twilight walk featuring supernatural stories, spooky cocktails and food, while Family Fright Night on Saturday, October 31, will invite children to hunt for monster hidden in artworks, take part in games and enjoy trick-or-treat activities.
Both of the tours will feature Monsters Can’t Fly, a large-scale inflatable artwork by Matthew Aberline with The Beautiful and Useful Studio.
The season will end up the Festive Sundowner, an art and bar crawl running on Wednesday evenings December 2, 9 and 16.
The three-hour-long experience will combine public art with stops at three local venues, including drinks and nibbles, offering an alternative to organising a group Christmas catch-up from scratch.
Ms Chapman said the format meant small groups of friends or family members could take part without needing to organise a private booking.
“The best part is you don’t need to plan anything,” she said.
“You just rock up at 5, and then we’ll take care of it, and we’ll show you around.”
City of Subiaco mayor David McMullen said the tours would offer a fresh perspective on the area’s art and culture.
“These tours are a different way to experience Subiaco. Exploring on foot gives you the chance to take things in, experience the place properly and discover somewhere new along the way,” he said.
Most of the walking tours run for about 90 minutes and are fully accessible.
Ms Chapman encouraged residents to come and support local businesses and artists while discovering more about their own neighbourhood.
“Get out there, support local business, support art, get to know your area a little bit better and just have fun,” she said.
Tickets are avaliable online.
