Artwork by local artists commissioned for White Night Shepparton has been gifted to the community by the Victorian Government.
Shadows has become a permanent public artwork outside Kaiela Arts, on the wetlands of Victoria Park.
Tori Day, Tahnee Day and Dylan Charles were commissioned to complete the artwork ahead of the June 25 event, which attracted more than 30,000 locals and visitors.
The artwork is made up of three sculptures, with the artists designing one each.
Tori said her design was one she had drawn when she was younger and evolved to become her style of art.
“My brother Tom Day is a big inspiration ... he said it looked like the wetlands,” she said.
“I googled what the wetlands were and it showed a bird’s eye view, and it was very similar to my artwork, so I pay tribute to the wetlands when I do it now and try to perfect it.”
Tori said it felt “surreal” to see the design on the sculpture and installed outside Kaiela Arts.
“To know that it’s going to be here forever now, it’s like putting my mark on Shepparton — it’s very exciting,” she said.
Victorian Tourism, Sport and Major Events Minister Steve Dimopoulos was in Shepparton to announce the gifting of the artwork.
“We hope the entire Shepparton community and the thousands of visitors to Shepparton, and maybe future festivals, can ask about the story of why it is here and what it means,” Mr Dimopoulos said.
“Shadows has been warmly received by locals and visitors to Kaiela Arts and SAM, and we’re proud to make it a permanent fixture on this storied landscape.”
City of Greater Shepparton councillor Greg James, also a Kaiela Arts board representative, said he was proud of the final product, which was a key exhibit of White Night.
“[Tori and Tahnee Day and Dylan Charles] are great artists in their own right in our community and have been producing some magnificent work right throughout this region,” he said.