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08-06-2007

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Point Reserve Mosaic Sculptures 1999

Robyn and I completed this 'Entry Statement' to a park by the Swan River in 1999.

We presented a proposal to the local town council and got the year sevens from the nearby primary school involved in assembling the 'reed' mosaics that frame the major works..

The four major mosaics depict some of the fauna found in the immediate riverside environment.. A Sacred Kingfisher (above), a Banjo Frog, a Red Dragonfly and a Marbled Ghecko..

I made a scale model of the work and a paper mosaic mockup for our presentation to the council, and they decided to fund the project..

Having the community involved was a great idea, the sculpture was finished in June 1999 and to this day has not been tagged or defaced..

Ownership is everything in community art..

We employed a bricklayer to build the two curving, freeform walls while we were assembling the mosaics 'offsite' (see 'Mosaics / Reverse Method' in the navigation bar) in a shed nearby..

Centennial of Federation Mosaic Sculpture 2001

The Swan City Youth Service obtained funding from the Centenary of Federation Council to create a demountable mosaic sculpture depicting the relationship between the indigenous and european settlers of the midland area over the last 100 years..

Phil, a wonderful aboriginal artist, and I designed a pyramid that would tell the story as you walked around it..

The pyramid is 2.5mtrs tall with a 3mtr baseline on all four sides.. The Artwork took 8 months to complete and was assembed by young people in the Midland area, local volunteers and a dedicated WFTD crew..

The Swan River was depicted in the mosaic flowing up and down and around the mosaic, as changes in the history of the area and the local landscape followed the walk around the pyramid..

The top section of the mosaic has a constant chevron of red zigging and zagging on all four sides..
But black becomes blue in the other chevrons and the dots change from white to to yellow... Signifying the flag colours of the European visitors, (red, white & blue),, And the flag of the original keepers of the land, (red, yellow, black)..

Please note that the 'red' runs through all sides and links the two cultures..

The Pyramid was exhibited for a short time in the Art Gallery of Western Australia and in the State Museum..

Koongamia Mosaics, Lloyd Penn Park 2006

The Koongamia mosaics were assembled in the art room of the nearby Primary School, Clayton View PS.. The Community Liason Officer along with architects, landscapers and local community groups obtained a grant from the State Department of Housing and Works..

I was commissioned to facilitate the installation of three circular mosaics (2m diameter) to be the focal point for the terminus of the local 'waliking bus' for children attending the school..

We set the kids (years 4 - 7) the challenge of a science project to find out about the native fauna in the area and then draw the animals that they found.. Assisted by the school's science teacher (and Deputy Principal) they came up with many designs..

With the aid of a photocopier and an overhead projector I copied the kids drawings onto the paper that we used to assemble the mosaics (see 'Mosaics / Reverse Method' in the navigation bar).

I worked with young people from K to 7 at the school for two terms and when it came to installing the mosaics some of the kids even turned up on their weekends to participate.. The local community also got involved in many ways and to this day the mosaics look as good as they always have..

The finished work was launched by the State Minister and attended by representatives of all involved in October '06..

Lockridge Community Gardens "Story Trail" 2007- 08

The Lockridge Community Garden Group obtained funding for the creation of a Community Garden in public open space near the Lockridge Community Centre..

I was commissioned to work with residents of the local area, students from Lockridge P.S., residents from to Bennett Brook complex and children at Brockman House Care Centre, to facilitate making Mosaic slabs for a 'Story Trail' in the crushed limestone paths through the gardens..

Over a period of about 3 months, we assembled fifty-six mosaics in total.. The Primary School students tried to represent the six seasons of the local Nyungah people in native plants & animals.. Most of the others created images more in keeping with the garden ideal, we even came up with some very colourful abstract designs..

The Community Garden Project at Lockridge is a wonderful initiative and Harry and the crew should take great pride in it, as should the people of Lockridge..

Warwick Senior High School Fast Track Project

Term 3 2008

Working with the 'Fast Track' students in year 11 at Warwick SHS for 9 weeks in Term 3, we created a mosaic sculpture Bird Bath in the school's gardens..

The project was vandalised shortly before completion, fortunately the sixteen mosaics that had been assembled were not fixed in place at the time.. The mosaics depict plants and animals found in the local area & bushland surrounding the school.. There are state & national flags included..

The bonding & Pride that the young people developed over the course of the project was incredible, legendary!!

More to come..