A chalk wombat was drawn to wash away in the rain. A graffiti cleaner sealed it in for good.
In Warrnambool, Victoria, artist Jimmi Buscombe drew a chalk wombat named "Gutsy" on an underpass wall in 2018 as a temporary test piece. Instead of power-washing it away, council graffiti-removal contractor Phil Hoye loved the drawing so much that he bought automotive clear coat and sealed it permanently onto the concrete. "I stood back and thought, 'Gee whiz, that's good, I can't wash that off,'" Mr Hoye told the ABC. The accidental mural became an international sensation, drawing tens of thousands of visitors and sparking a lasting friendship between the artist and cleaner.
Warrnambool residents and visitors gained an iconic public artwork celebrating local wildlife through a simple act of kindness between two neighbours.
Source: Warrnambool's wombat: The story behind the video that went viral (abc.net.au).
Written by the HappyGood desk from the primary source linked above and checked against it. Every story links its source. Corrections: [email protected].
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