Painted bus stops

Come join us in search of painted bus stops as we continue making the most of showcasing some free things to do in our beautiful hometown. This weekend take advantage of the warm and sunny morning and spent some time getting out and about in the suburbs starting with a drive to East Fremantle to do something a bit different.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

We headed there in search of painted bus stops.  Yes that’s right, bus stops.  We all know a bus stop is a designated place where buses stop for passengers, they are normally on a highway and are distinct. Bus stops are common in pop culture, there was Marilyn Monroe’s film called Bus Stop, a scene famous by Forrest Gump takes places at a bus stop and most episodes of South Park feature main characters at a bus stop. But none as distinct or more easily recalled than the old concrete bus shelters that have received an artistic makeovers in East Fremantle.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

City of Melville, we’d heard, are providing young people the opportunity to contribute in the community by designing public art. We also found some painted by Brenton See in Forrestfield.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

This unique collaboration between City of Fremantle and local educational institutions has given some bus stops a new lease on life. It is believed one strategy to minimise the effect of graffiti artists is to sponsor street art. And it seems to be working.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

First we saw a shelter painted to reflect the champion community based Western Australian Football League (WAFL) club, East Fremantle, AKA Old Easts or The Sharks. The bus stop is right outside the 1898 club grounds and playing field of East Freo football club.

The next, my favourite, a cute cosy interior of a cottage house painted by Graeme Richards. As with all his artworks there is great detail in this, a rear wall with potted geraniums, a window with French shutters, a dado wall with the wall above adorned with wallpaper, ornamental plates, even flying ducks from the 60’s. There is a wedding photos, china ornaments and on the adjacent wall, a pink and grey galah sits.

We came across “The Cheesy Stop” painted by Jesus Zeigler in the City of Melville introduced as part of their strategic plan to incorporate public art in the local community by running a “Happy stimulus package” to provide paid work to local artists.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Another shelter is completely painted with roses, one is painted in a musical theme, another is pink and mystical with bats and trees. There is another bright and cheery children’s painting of a cityscape.

Other local councils are now transforming dull and boring bus shelters with children’s art. The regional town of Geraldton has also introduced a boost of colour to their bus shelters.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Bus stop art has made waiting for bus more attractive thanks to the Urban Arts program.

Have you seen any artistic bus stops like these?

What are you waiting for? Share this post or leave a comment below. If you like this post and want to read more like this why not subscribe to our Newsletter? We won’t spam you or share your personal details. If you’re not doing so already, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or click the Mix, Flipboard or other social media buttons below to share this post with others who might enjoy reading it.