From the 21^st of September to the 21^st of October 2012, the city of Sydney becomes a canvas for artists and performers as part of the innovative Art and About festival.  Utilising the city’s streets, parks, squares and laneways as inspiration, artists from Australia and abroad are given the opportunity to display their talents in a unique and engaging public art project.

Inspired by a kids’ book by Bob Gill, published in 1962, called What Colour Is Your World?, the theme of the 2012 Art and About festival is “In Colour”, an exploration of all colour brings to our life in the city.

“Our projects and artists this year really aim to colour outside the lines, to take art of all mediums into new and unusual places. To let us think of the everyday in new ways and encourage us to colour our worlds differently,” explains Gill Minervini, the Creative Director - Events for the City of Sydney.

Highlights of this year’s festival include a house in which visitors must endure heavy rain by Sydney artist James Dive and The Glue Society, a fully recyclable, 10-metre high x 10-metre wide giant, completely edible, luscious green environment and an art exhibition for the blind featuring LED signage.

Also attracting plenty of attention is Emergence by artist Craig Walsh which involves the projection of haunting faces projected onto trees located in Hyde Park South that emerge from leave and branches after dark. The installation pays homage to Hyde Park’s history as a meeting point for civic unrest, protest, and direct action.

Click the slideshow to see the Top 5 Installations from the 2012 Sydney Art and About Festival