Three-year-old Oliver and his one-year-old sister Maeve may not understand the terms “lockdown” or “COVID-19’” but the Charlestown tots do know that it’s because of these words that they now have the beginnings of an art gallery on their front fence.
And while the siblings are enjoying watching the front of their Algona Road address slowly filling with colour, they’d love their community to get involved.
Using cable ties, their cardboard creations have been secured to the steel fence bordering their home, yet the pair still have almost 10m of ‘art space’ to fill.
“It started with rainbows,” says mum Charli.
“And if you have rainbows there are always fairies nearby, so they came next.
“Then it was the word ‘Smile’.
“Then Oliver wanted Lightning McQueen and a racing snail from Turbo, so next came ‘Burn’.
“I have no idea what’ll be next.”
Charli, a casual primary school teacher, says her busy youngsters are missing spending time at childcare.
Despite both her and husband both being fully vaccinated, Charli says her husband’s cystic fibrosis means it’s safer to keep the kids at home for the time being.
So as the Hunter enters week six of lockdown, their ‘art fence’ has become a positive way to spend their days.
“They’re too young to understand everything that’s going on, all they know is they haven’t been to childcare for a while, so this hopefully makes them smile.
“It also brings a little joy to people who are walking by. It gives families an hour-long activity to keep kids busy.
“It was just for my kids but it honestly cheers me up too.”
Charli is now hoping others will add their own special artworks.
“We’ve had our first drop-off this week – a dreamcatcher.
“People can leave painted rocks, pompoms, anything really, and hopefully it’ll help us all get through this with a smile.”
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