Mary Lou Pavlovic provides children with self-expression through mural classes

When Mary Lou Pavlovic saw the impacts the pandemic had on students when she was a primary school tutor, she was determined to strengthen their self-esteem.

The Bowral artist and art teacher saw a call for applications to support youth after recent crises through the state government's Regional Youth Office, and decided to apply.

She partnered with the organisation Bridges for Learning in Bowral during the process and her mural project was then given the green light.

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"It feels very special to be able to help those kids," she said.

Children from the ages of five and above can work on personal murals on large-scale canvases, over five week blocks.

The free weekly classes, which began on February 7, take place after school, and aspiring artists can choose their own colours and themes.

The final results will be exhibited altogether sometime in June.

"It's a way to bring the community together who might be feeling a bit isolated," she said.

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The dedicated creator has been running art classes in Bowral since April 2022, and believes art is a great opportunity to give people of all ages avenues to express themselves.

"The number one thing is that the kids absolutely love it and very often don't want to go home from the classes," she said.

Prior to teaching in the Highlands, Ms Pavlovic has exhibited work in Bali, Edinburgh, Tokyo, London, Jakarta, New York, the Philippines, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, and Wollongong.

She has studied in Canberra, London and Melbourne, and was invited to lecture classes in the United Kingdom and the Victorian capital.

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The artist was also granted a residency to complete a body of work in Bali.

Art for Mary Lou also been the opportunity to start conversations - she was awarded an exhibition by the New York-based not-for-profit arts organisation Apexart, to curate an exhibition with artists who collaborated with prisoners incarcerated in Indonesian jails.

For more information, call Mary Lou on 0412 609 917, or email maryloupav@yahoo.com.au.

Learn more about Mary Lou on her website maryloupav.wixsite.com/maryloupavlovic-1.

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