I met a girl in the country
I take every opportunity to head out into the countryside because it's where I feel comfortable, relaxed and more myself; a by-product of having been born in a small rural town in Australia and the fact I prefer less people around me...and fresh air.
Last weekend I was headed to a place called Port Broughton, a coastal town in South Australia's mid-north, but I got distracted...by a pretty girl...and stopped in Bute, a tiny map-dot town, where nothing much happens and few people go.
Bute is a typical example of a small Australian rural town. Founded in 1884 and based around crop farming it' shad a long history but today only has a population of around two hundred people. In planting or reaping season it comes alive but last weekend it was fast asleep when I arrived; meaning there was no one to be seen.
Wheat-farming towns always have grain silos and over the years they've suffered the indignation of being scrawled upon with graffiti which is ugly but, more and more these days, the local districts are moving towards beautifying their silos with artworks in a bid to attract visitors. I've posted about others I've visited before and thought I'd add Bute's silo art to the list.
This is one of the best I've seen although, to be honest, they're all bloody marvellous.
I love silo art, I think because they exist in such remote locations and are so juxtaposed when observed in their rural settings...the art work against the backdrop of hard working towns that were built on the toil, sweat and determination of everyday Australians.
This one has old abandoned rail tracks running past, a couple sheds and the second (un-painted) silo for company and almost seems out of place in such a barren location; but at the same time is right where it is supposed to be. I don't know, maybe you need to be an Australian to get what I'm saying...It just has a sense of belonging. The images in the mural depict scenery from around the area: Local flora (in the girl's basket and on the ground), rolling brown hills and a depiction of the old railway station and track itself, so it's sort of a celebration of the region.
It rises like a triumph from the very earth that, through farming, helped this town spring to life through the efforts of the very first settlers and I think adds so much interest to what would normally be a simple white-painted grain silo.
Walking around the base of this silo art, the sheer size of it looming overhead, left me feeling a great deal of respect for those that created it and those it pays homage to, the people who forged a life in these almost desolate places.
The detail up close is spectacular and it's pretty incredible all round I think, considering the scope of the project. In the image above I've added an arrow pointing to a person standing at the very base of the silo for perspective...that gives you an idea of the size of this mural.
If you're interested, you can watch a fast-motion video of the silo art being created on this YouTube link. It's cool and is worth a look.
Small towns like this one are dying. The younger generations, lured by a more exciting life in urban environments, are moving away from the land and so generations of farming heritage are coming to a close which is sad.
The farms, massive tracts of land and the equipment that goes with it, are either bought by Australian conglomerates or the Chinese, (the latter fucken annoys me), and the towns are fast-becoming unviable as there's fewer and fewer people left to spend money and sustain them. Silo art like this one is something local councils can do to bring people there and at least some of the townsfolk can benefit through operating service stations, antique shops, cafes and the like. It's sad though, seeing once-thriving places become ghost towns.
I'm glad I met this girl in the country and am happy that, through buying a cake and coffee at the local shop, I could help the town out just a little. Thanks for taking a look at my post and if you have any questions or comments please let me know below.
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default; tomorrow isn't promised so be humble and kind - galenkp
[All original and proudly AI free.]
All images in this post are my own.
My Samsung S22 Ultra was used to capture these images.
Ah, she's beautiful. And even though I've seen silo art before, your photographing your girl person next to the woman in the painting was shocking for even me; the sheer size of these silos is astonishing. Maybe I've only seen them from afar. Maybe @new.things and I need to go find and photo one close-up.
She is indeed beautiful and to see the perspective of a grain silo against a human...it certainly boggles the mind.
There's quite a lot of them around South Australia but I'm not sure what might be around your neck of the woods. There's a website although I'm not sure how well it's kept updated.
https://www.australiansiloarttrail.com/
Find some and get your asses out there...It's very cool. (Take a picnic.)
Ooooooh. I like that map! Thank you 😁🙌 !LUV
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Wow!!!... Impressive!... (And lovely y to see)... This is art in XXL size!!!...Great shots @galenkp friend!... Thanks for sharing!
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It's certainly impressive in real life; I think my photos sort of show that...but could never represent the art work as being there in person can.
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Lots of the smaller Australia country towns are doing a great job beautifying and adding attractions, it is great to see. We enjoy doing a bit of parkrun touristing. Travelling out to different places generally we would have never thought of visiting, Getting our 5 kilometre fitness hit then breakfasting with a few of the locals and checkout what the town has to offer.
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There's places that people would bever usually go, but which they now visit because of silo art. One such place is Coonalpyn in South Australia. People usually just drive post on their way between Melbourne and Adelaide...Now...they all stop for photos, get a pie and coke, cake and coffee or whatever...and the town makes some cash. It's a good thing.
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The artist of the picture is so we'll talented and skilled as he/she portrays the life in the country side. The pictures shows a beautiful lady enjoying her life with nature. A simple yet happy life.
It's really cool right? All of these silo artworks depict images from around the local area so each are unique to the town. I've seen several in person and all of them are rather special.
I like the way the top of the silo clouds blend into the background sky almost. Another day it may be seamless.
Shame about the future of towns like this. What kind of world are we creating?
I've seen many of these ailo artworks and all are good, but this one really resonates with me for some reason. Maybe just the setting, the fact the place seemed deserted except for the pretty girl on the silo.
You're right about the clouds, I actually haven't looked at it that way. I guess that's the beauty of art, we all see it differently.
What type of world are we creating? Indeed, that's the question. Alas, I think (generally) the answer is, not a very good one.
Thanks for your comment and observations.
Hi @galenkp
This was such an interesting post ! I love the silo too. You were so right about the YouTube video ( thanks for the link ).
I grew up in small towns and if you move to a small town it can be almost like being adopted into a large family, if you get there at the right time. And always smile.
This is a very nice post. Thanks
I've sometimes thought (later in life) that I took my small-town upbringing for granted but then realise that wasn't the case at all; rather, I felt so comfortable growing up there that it was simply a part of me, like an arm or leg, you know? I didn't take it for granted, I just lived.
It's sad to think about them slowing dying out. People move away for various reasons and the towns become unsustainable. It's very sad I my opinion...as a country boy.
Thanks for taking a look at my post, I'm glad you liked it.
Hi @galenkp
I know what you mean. I miss the things that are very hard to find now days. Like when I was a child, growing up around Cajun people. Every winter we would all get together and butcher hogs. During which time they would make boudin, cracklins, and various other sausages. But it would be a lot of people there helping. All the ladies would bring their extra pots and pans so that they could make more rice or whatever. It would be so cold outside but you could take two steps inside the barn next to the fire where they were making cracklings and you would be nice and toasty. The smell of such wonderful food with just permeate all the air. It make you so hungry. Until you saw them scraping the hog. LOL.
It's things like this I absolutely Miss. I've lived in the same home now for 18 plus years and only know two neighbors. Only one of which invites me over. That is sad.
Even on my part I hardly invite anyone over I've just got so many other things going on. So it's sad on my part too.
People and life has changed and I don't think all of that change is for the better. We are more distant from people in my opinion, despite people saying we're more connected (through computers and social media). There's connection and then there's connection. Right?
@galenkp
You are absolutely correct my friend. There are fewer and fewer people that I could call (on the phone) and say, "hey can you come give me a hand ?" Try that with a FB friend.. LoL ,🙃
Rightly said!
Pretty cool view of a picture that is in that place and at the time of shooting also the weather was very good with a very clear sky.
It is a cool artwork indeed and I was lucky the weather was good for sure.
It's interesting how you manage to map certain cultural aspects from Australia in most of your articles by depicting the most common cultural features like in this article. Thanks for sharing pieces of your daily life with us and for including us in your small journeys!
Thank you, I try to make things interesting on Hive as I know most people never read anything. I guess if it's a little interesting there's a greater chance someone will skim the text rather than just looking at the pictures.
I'm glad you liked this post and thanks for your comment.
Silo art is huge in Australia, isn't it? I went to look it up and it was all about the Aussie's silo art trail. How cool!
I see fewer and fewer farms every year in the rural part of Virginia, and Maryland, closest to me. I just watched a Data Center snap up acres and acres of land to build more centers, taking down two huge silos. What is wrong with people? Don't we need farms to eat? I cannot imagine where this is all going.
As an aside, you have me wanting to check out more silos around here. Thee is one with dancing chickens out where I go riding. They painted over it last summer and I was so sad, but weeks later, the dancing chickens were back, after their facelifts.
The silo you show is such a peaceful piece of scenery. Thanks for sharing.
Hi, Galen!
It's a thing we do here for sure...Maybe we all have island fever because, you know...Australia is an island and all. Lol.
It's all a bit bonkers the way farms are repurposed to other things right? I guess humans don't need to eat? Crumping, sexting and tweeting is all a human really needs after all...or so it would seem. #wankers
I hope you manage to find some cool silo art up your way and if not...come down here, I'll saddle up Big Dog and we'll go exploring.
Saddle up the Big Dog. I'm still laughing at your humor. Where do you buy it from? :)
I found a water tower that was painted (on the internet) It was called apples in a basket. Pretty cool, but nothing like the art you have there. How funny is this? Every time I Google silo art or something like it, it shows me Australia, even though I say US.
No lie.
I understand a bit of what the farmers go through. I never thought we would get so many quitting on us. It all started in the 50s and it has been downhill since then. Now, bankruptcy is a huge problem. The odds are stacked against them.
On a brighter note: St. Patrick's Day is upon us!
53 years of life bestowed it upon me.
Maybe silo art is primarily an Australian. It's a shame as it is so cool!
Just on the farmers thing...People don't care anymore, they just want more...no matter what. So food is made in factories.
Interestingly...I met with a customer who works for a timber company here. They have a mill. When the Chinese decided to not accept our wine, seafood and timber to, teach us a lesson, this company had three bulk carriers anchored off China full of wood chips. It cost the company $57,000 each day, for three months. Finally they let them in and offloaded to wood chips.
You know what they do with them? They put them in two minute noodles for human consumption.
So...who needs farmers when people are happy to eat food that uses wood chips as filler.
Fucken humans.
@galenkp,
Being interested in progress and advancement is not an issue, but having strong cravings for advancement ("no matter what") with a strong eagerness to get the objects of one's affection, is definitely a real issue plaguing individuals and society.
I care though, and if a social network is to become social, it makes sense to have users and members who care, or are interested in caring.
This is wild, and is the first time I heard of this particular event. Thank you for sharing.
In my view, it's not humans themselves that should be condemned, but it's the Greed, Hatred, and Ignorance that fools humans into making unwise and harmful decisions .. we can turn things around though, by practicing Generosity, @loving-kindness, and by gaining Wisdom.
~ @chrisrice
Humankind are doomed to fail, it is the way of all things to meet an end and humans will also. We're just accelerating the ultimate demise with our actions and attitudes.
I agree that all things in this world end (including human life) but not all endings are failures.
Best wishes to you and your family.
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Hi @galenkp,
About the "crumping, sexting and Tweeting", I think a lot of this imbalance will change in the future, and I also think society is at a turning point right now.
It is difficult to see things before they happen, but I imagine things changing out of necessity.
Superficial entertainment without real meaningful value has taken a toll on many, and still is harming people .. people will change their lifestyles out of necessity, and due to the suffering that comes from poor lifestyles (not all, but many will change for the better imo).
P.S. I am not sure if you remember me, but I joined Hive in 2018 and was one of your avid readers.. I commented on many of your posts, and also commented on and read posts by your brother.
Thank you.
~ @chrisrice
Hi @dswigle,
Do you also live in Australia?
Hello! Hello! I remember you! No, not Australia, but the USA.
You do remember me? 🙂
But soon I think I'll be able to use #Hive as much as I used to (as an end-user I mean).
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That's an excellent piece of art. The girl's face in particular captured the nuance of sunlit features and shadows.
The artist has surely done an excellent job in depicting the details of the girl. Unfortunately my images don't do it full justice, but take it from me, it's a great mural!
Your knack for taking great photos of beautiful things is always interesting.
Murals this humongous amazes me. I can't even imagine the time, level of precision, creativity, and hard work it takes to paint something like this — so beautiful.
It's sad that the energy in such a town is reducing by the day. It must indeed be a tad bit boring for the youths everyday being in a town fast from the excitement in the country. I sure would like to get out if I were to be their shoes.
It's because people leave for the cities that these towns die. When people are there they are thriving rural centres, but people don't want to work the land anymore, it's too hard...They'd rather get paid by the government for being unemployed like the lazy fuckers they are. That's why these towns aren't surviving. As people move away there's less to support the town (spend their money there).
The artwork is pretty good. If you watch the video you'll see what's involved in its creation.
It looks like it won't be long that there may be even less than 50 people left in Bute. Definitely not healthy for the town.
I'm a little confused. How exactly does the government pay them for being unemployed?
I did watch the video. That's why I'm amazed. The mural must have taken so many days to complete. It was definitely worth it. It's beautiful!
In Australia unemployed people earn a few hundred dollars a week.
That's crazy. The average employed person doesn't not even earn like that here.
Yeah, and during the covid thing they doubled it. Fucken government are bonkers. There's people who have never worked a day in their life and lived well.
Even crazier! Your economy must indeed be healthy to be able afford rewarding people for just breathing oxygen; the same oxygen that actual hard working people breathe.
Yeah, the workers pay tax and the government give it to lazy mofo's. Human's really are assholes.
Indeed we can be assholes. I cannot but wonder the government's reason to justify this insanity.
This must apply to only indigenes and not all citizens, right?
Haha, nope, everybody who is unemployed. The indigenous certainly get their fair share of handouts, but unemployment benefits apply to everyone, even me (if I was unemployed) although I have to much money in the bank to qualify. (When that's gone, I'd qualify.)
There's also the aged pension which is paid out to those over 65 (on retirement) which is about $960/fortnight for singles and a little les (each) for couples.
Yeah. But that's not happening. You're damn hardworking.
But hold up!! When you said a couple of hundred, I didn't think that high. I am guessing it's AUD. It's still freaking much for an unemployed person, for even every two weeks. Jeezzz
The craziest is being single with no children, but living well without working.
I'm seriously wondering how this is even possible. 😂
I couldn't sustain my lifestyle on $300 a week...or even triple that.
Of course. The asshole lifestyle would be mediocre and even demeaning for your calibre.
I grew up in a situation in which there wasn't much to go around...so I work hard to make sure I have everything I need, whenever I need it.
It definitely would be quite annoying for you to now see that people would rather incline towards being a liability to the country. I am certain your circle of friends doesn't contain this type of people.
Spot on. (That means exactly.)
Very understandable, and inspiring, sir.
I trust you had a great day. The day just started for us here.
Yep, a good day. Worked and now am out on the countryside hunting.
Oh, wow. Firstly, if you were in a place like this over here, you wouldn't get a palatable network to use the internet. 😂 How long is the drive from work to this place?
And is this your favourite sniper rifle?
This location is 15 minutes from my house in the Adelaide Hills. There's no phone service usually,but I'm at th top of a hill wat hung the sun go down and there's a bit of service up here.
The rifle is my culling system. Tikka CTR in a custom carbon fibre stock (to save weight) and mounted with a Kahles K624i(6-24x56) scope. It's a sweet shooter out to 1,200m.
I understand that there's the need for regular culling in Australia. Are there usually other people around shooting, especially when you're around shooting?
I noticed the Kahles scope. It reminds me of your DOPE post a few months ago; the one with the in-depth insight on sniping.
I wonder, doesn't the sound of the gunshots affect you, or maybe bother you or something?
I just rounded up this car washing chore for my mother. Off to breakfast.
Nope, just me and if I take someone else, (but that's rare). I'd not want to be around when there's other shooters...bullets are rather unforgiving.
I wear hearing protection or I'd be deaf by now with all the shooting I have done. Mine are electronic meaning I can hear tings (actually much better than my own hearing) but when a sound happens over a certain amount of decibels the ear muffs block it. Rather ingenious huh? Here you go: https://tacticalgear.com.au/products/peltor-tactical-100-hearing-protection-ear-muffs
I hope you have a good day...good work on the car washing, that's helpful to your mum. Well done.
Beautiful artwork. I love how it stands out and the colours are divine. It is so sad that these towns are slowly dying out, but I think they will be revived in the coming years when people start to value food again...and where it actually comes from.
It's surely a nice artwork. Did you watch the video? It's pretty cool.
Not all are dying out, but as people leave companies pull out (Australia Post, Banks, doctors, dentists etc.) more people leave and then more businesses leave. Companies like Viterra (grain) pay less and less to farmers for the grain in bulk and multinationals (or the fucken Chinese) come along and buy the farms for cents in the dollar. more people leave, dollars head overseas and...towns close. Just a few of the issues.
It's the equivalent of "the brain drain" - but we'll call it "the grain drain" this time.
I was just reading some of your other posts, going to go watch the video now 😁
Hope you are well Galen! 🦋
There's an exam coming up. Study hard.
Lol 👇
The way they manage to get the perspective right while using a forklift to paint it, just blows my damn mind! Freaking epic.
That is some excellent art and it looks super HD! The sheer scale and size is very impressive as well. I've always felt that Australia is a lot like Texas and after reading a bit about your sleepy town there... i may have been on to something when i originally had that feeling. Or, maybe it's just the impression that Quigley Down Under left on me. hahaha Cheers Mate
I'd say you're spot on with the Texas reference. There's differences of course, but it's similar enough. And on that movie, I know a guy that was in it...an Australian chap called Roger Ward. He was also in Mad Max, the original one, (maybe called Road Warrior up your way.) I knew his daughter. Fine lass, she was and I met the dad a few times.
This art is cool right? There's plenty around too. I really enjoy it.
That's super cool about Roger Ward and his daughter. I think the original car from Road Warrior made a tour through Texas many years ago. I knew a fellow that was obsessed with the movies and he bought tickets so he could ride in it. I framed up some of his memorabilia photos and it was pretty rad! I always thought of Australia as the British version of Texas. hahaha
British Texas? Hmm, it might work...but we're actually not at all like the Brits.
That gif always cracks me up. I love to hear Americans (anyone really) try to emulate the Australian accent. It always makes me laugh!
It's just the accent that is pseudo-british really. hahaha That was my favorite part of the movie... Austria.... Well then.... G'day mate. hahaha
It's funny, when I go to Queensland (Cairns) I get asked a lot, when did you come out from England? They think the South Australian accent sound really English. #wankers
Each State has it's different pronunciations I guess, much like USA or wherever. When I was in Vietnam I discovered they have something like 110 different languages and dialects. Incredible in such a small place.
I can assure you though, I sound Australian, there is no doubt. A few on Hive have heard me speak. None laughed, (much). 🤣
Indeed. A stupid movie that provides a lot of laughs. ✅
That background reminds me the windmills I visited in the Netherlands.
Some of them (not many actually) had paintings and they were so beautiful in the very middle of nature
It's the surprise of seeing such beauty on a mundane farming structure that makes these things so wondrous...That, and the amazing art of course. I've not been to th Netherlands...it's on the list though.
oh my! that is some marvelous work indeed! we also had a local campaign on making art in our subway walls since it's subject to graffiti, but considering the size of this silo and the way the colors just pop out is amazing 😃 thank you for sharing about this!
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I really hate graffiti, it's so bloody ugly. I hope they managed to get some nice murals painted in that subway! Maybe you could take some photos and do a post?
Did you know you can win 10$ hive by competing in our Monday Challenge? Its Every Monday, just go here.☜(ﾟヮﾟ☜)
Nah, I'll leave the rewards for someone else.
I also hate dbuzz, so won't be doing anything to promote it.
@galenkp,
It's alright to make your own decisions, but may I know why you:
I am wondering if you are not familiar with the work we do, the people involved, or our values and principles.
Thank you for your time.
What a beauty!!!! I love it! What great pictures @galenkp!!❤️❤️❤️
It was a lovely thig to behold, there is no doubt...and I liked the fact the town seemed deserted as it allowed the mural to take centre stage, as it should.
I love photography and design and I tell you that what I see in your post is wonderful, I congratulate you!
I often prefer smaller places as well. It's more relaxing out in the countryside.
That's a hell of a mural on that silo. Wow. I can't imagine how long that took to paint.
I think I can understand when you write "almost seems out of place in such a barren location; but at the same time is right where it is supposed to be". We have the same thing in the States. There will be nothing, just countryside, but then some unexpected thing pops up—a barn that is painted in a strange way as to attract attention, or some other unusual display. And you think... that is so odd, yet it's perfect. And you try to take a photo to capture it but of course a photo can't capture the feeling of the place so it falls a little flat.
I'll go watch the YouTube link now.
Yep, you know exactly what I mean when I say, right where it's supposed to be. You summed it up nicely.
I watched that time-lapse on youtube. Amazing! I wonder how long it took.
I'm not sure how long, but a long time seems appropriate.
It's kind of sad when people grow up not feeling connected to the small towns they live in, though understandable in some cases. Like from my small town, there are some people who left never to return for various reasons (bad experiences involving other people, or they just loved the city life more, or they wouldn't mind going back but there just isn't the type of work they're interested in etc) and others that left for education and maybe to see a bit of other places but then returned to raise families.
I love the giant murals on dams and silos and stuff. They may as well be pretty if they have to be there XD And then everyone can marvel at both the art and the technical feats that would have been required to pull them off.
I've never seen a bad silo art mural and am always amazed at them. I'm happy to have seen a lot of them around the place and will see more for sure.
You're right, people leave places for many reasons...I did too.
Given how big they are I imagine the artist/s would go out of their way to make sure they're not bad XD
Yeah, crappy murals would be quite difficult to hide I reckon, and mistakes would be glaringly obvious.
That is fucking amazing!
Indeed. Seeing it in real life, the scale of it, was so great. This is right up there as one of my favourites I've seen.
Splendid!!