A NEW Living Laneways program aims to breathe life into Rockdale's town centre, with artworks and a series of themed markets highlighting the community's vibrant multicultural diversity.
Artist Sophia Egarchos has lived in the suburb for more than 20 years.
She has created the art installation Love and Feeling for the outside wall of the Target building in King Lane.
It will be installed on Thursday, before the Living Laneways Handmade Markets on Saturday.
"Being a resident, I have travelled down the stairs from the car park and ventured into the streets many times," she said.
"I have seen the rejuvenation and the re-emergence of vitality in the surrounding streets and laneways, and I wanted to create a work that exemplified the layers, liveliness and activity of Rockdale.
"I'm interested in activating the lane with a visual vitality of colour and pattern and bringing life into a lane that is constantly used but possibly overlooked."
The festival will feature handmade craft, live music, pottery, clay-making, woodcarving, children's entertainment and markets.
Another artist will also create a large mural to inspire visitors to learn local history.
It is inspired by Thomas Saywell, a merchant who in the 1880s predicted the Illawarra rail line would create new suburbs in the deserted area south of Cooks River.
He bought an estate at Lady Robinsons Beach, built the fashionable New Brighton Hotel, and a public bathing enclosure described as "the best in Australia".
THEMES FOR WEEKEND MARKETS
Monthly themed markets will run for the rest of the year as part of the council’s program. A babies’ and children’s market is on August 9, a home and garden market on September 13, a second-hand/vintage market on October 25, a fashion market on November 8 and a Christmas market on December 4.
