Focus on Mr. Stringy and discuss the Folk art.
Mr. Stringy is regularly and anonymously repainted as different characters, usually by members of the local community. The painting and maintenance of Mr. Stringy is not funded nor coordinated by any government or private organisation or individual, and is a type of modern folk art for the Tambo Valley and Omeo District. Despite not being officially recognised, redecoration of Mr. Stringy is condoned and encouraged by both the community and local authorities.
The characters often of a topical nature, such as a player from the Omeo & District Football League premiership football or netball team for that year, a cyclist to mark the Great Victorian Bike Ride when it travelled along the Great Alpine Road, and Cadel Evans following his win in the 2011 Tour de France. The sculpture is sometimes painted as generic characters, for example a blushing bride, or a skier around the start of the ski season. Alternatively it may be painted as a figure from popular culture, such as Homer Simpson or Wonder Woman. More recently he was painted as a tribute to firefighters after the 2019- 2020 bushfires.
Mr. Stringy is sometimes just given a mild makeover, such as by modifying an existing painted character by adding a piece of clothing or simple decoration like balloons, ribbons, or streamers. This is often to celebrate an occasion such as Christmas or a sporting victory. At other times it is poorly painted or mildly vandalised. For example, he once had a tin of black paint poured over him and local community members promptly respond by redecorating and repainting him into a new character.
The unlikely existence of Mr. Stringy in a remote roadside location, and his regularly changing characters, make him a popular figure with current and former locals of the district, as well as a tourist attraction for visitors to the area.
Great Victorian Bike Ride paint Great Alpine Road Victoria cyclist Homer Simpson bride popular culture Omeo & District Football League Cadel Evans Wonder Woman folk art Omeo District skier Folk art 2011 Tour de France tourist attraction Tambo Valley Omeo