THE SPIRIT OF THE LAKE

Some moments crystallise what New Brighton is becoming. The inauguration of the Captain Mike Lowe mural was one of them — a gathering of people who care deeply about this town, its stories, and its future. And in the middle of all that warmth and energy, something quite special happened: Spirit of the Lake became part of the day.

I’d invited the Friends of the Marine Lake to join us, because their work, their energy, and their sense of purpose feel so closely aligned with the values we hold at NBCF. Joe Forrest stood up and spoke about the mural he created with the young people and volunteers who have been shaping this project over so many months. Hearing them talk about the lake — its history, its shifting moods, its significance to so many people — added a depth to the room that felt important. It reminded everyone that public art isn’t just decoration; it’s connection. It ties us back to the places where we meet, where we gather, where we heal, and where we continue the traditions that make life here meaningful.

© 2025 Pete Carr — petecarr.net. Used with permission for New Brighton Creative Futures.

The Marine Lake is one of those places. Anyone who spends time near it knows it isn’t just a body of water; it has character. It can be gentle or wild, mirror-flat or restless and loud. That’s why Spirit of the Lake works so beautifully. Joe didn’t paint a static image — he painted something that lives with the water. The mural is part of the lake’s pulse now, rising and falling with each tide, shifting with the light, ricocheting reflections across the surface. When you watch the video, you see that interplay clearly: water and paint telling one story together.

© 2025 Pete Carr — petecarr.net. Used with permission for New Brighton Creative Futures.

Bringing that story into the same space as the celebration for Captain Mike Lowe felt right. Both murals come from the same instinct — to honour the people and places that shape us. Mike dedicated his life to the river. The lake has shaped generations in quieter, but no less powerful, ways. Both speak to New Brighton’s identity as a coastline built on resilience, heritage and community spirit. Both needed the community to make them real.

And that’s what struck me most about that afternoon. None of this is happening in isolation. The Friends of the Marine Lake, the Tri4Life team, the young people sketching ideas, the volunteers picking litter at low tide, the local groups gathering for swims, dips, qigong, conversations and cups of tea — they’re all part of the same momentum. NBCF, Friends of the Marine Lake, Friends of Victoria Quarter, our artists, our partners, our residents… we’re knitted together more than ever. When we collaborate, we amplify each other. We make the town stronger. We make the stories louder. We make the work last.

That’s why I’m so proud to share the Spirit of the Lake film. It isn’t just a record of an artwork. It’s a conversation with a living landscape — the lake, the tide, the weather, and the people who care enough to fight for it.

Projects like these happen because people give their time, their graft, their creativity, their fundraising and their belief. From the Rustman Challenge raising thousands for lake improvements, to the steady support from the Borough of Culture programme, to Joe’s artistry and the relentless dedication of local volunteers — it’s a community-built legacy.

And when you see it all come together, on the lake and on the wall at the Master Mariner, you realise something quietly profound: New Brighton is telling its story again. Boldly. Publicly. In colour and concrete and tidewater.

Long may that continue.