|
Warragul Project Launch &
Update:
Colourful banners, food and wine and musical
entertainment set the scene for the launch of
the Warragul Women who Mean Business ‘Arts
Discovery Trail’ in the Burke Street Park.
More than 100 people attended the launch.
The launch was the culmination of over 12 month’s
hard work, planning and persistence. The women
invited members of the public to join them in
a series of mosaic workshops and the results of
these can now be seen at the small bridge in the
park.
The call then went out to all our community artists
to paint a bollard to be placed along the entire
length of the trail, beginning in Burke Street
Park and finishing at the far end, past the wetlands
area.
The response was phenomenal, with 25 bollards
completed and another 25 waiting installation.
Member for Narracan, Ian Max.eld, officially cut
the ribbon to launch the project. “It’s
an arts discovery trail in every sense of the
word.
My wife and I often come into Warragul to walk
the trail and I love discovering a new bollard
in place. I hope the remaining bollards don’t
go in all at once,” Ian said. Mayor, Ian
Clark, congratulated the group and took the opportunity
to encourage more women to become involved in
local government.
An artist book told the story behind the artist
and their bollard. Some had a message to get across,
whether it was saving our native wild life, the
horrors of war or the beauty of our environment.
Some were whimsical and some pure fun. Some of
the artists are newly arrived in our region from
overseas and saw this project as an opportunity
to connect with other local artists.
Each bollard is a unique piece of art, expressing
the artist’s own individual style. Chairperson
of the group, Ingrid Thomas, acknowledged the
wonderful contribution made by the artists to
the beautification of the Linear Park Trail, one
of the shire’s most widely used assets.
The group responsible for coordinating and bringing
the project to fulfillment includes Patricia Clynes,
Yvonne Magyar, Ingrid Thomas, Sarah Hawkey, Cathy
Smith, Maree Wallace and Elisabet Smedbakken.
The group wishes to acknowledge the support of
the shire, both financial and in-kind, as well
as the contributions made by many other individuals
and community groups.
Plans are underway for a mosaic compass rose
to be completed at the start of the trail. The
compass will depict aspects of our heritage, environment,
education, health, sports and multi- culturalism.
Mosaic specialist, Maery Gabriel, will conduct
further workshops to skill anyone interested in
participating in this stage of the Arts Discovery
Trail Project. Also on the drawing board is a
mural to be constructed on the old tin shed along
the Linear Park Trail.
People who would like to help transform this
former eye sore into a work of art should contact
the Warragul Community House. Mural lessons are
free.
Bollard Bookmarks:
To promote the‘Bollard Project’ and
the artists involved, the Warragul Women who Mean
Business designed and printed a series of bookmarks
featuring the bollards.
These were distributed freely at the forum in
Sale. Guest speaker, Joan Kirner, was very impressed
with the colorful artwork and suggested that the
women should be selling the bookmarks.
She set the ball rolling by placing $6 into the
kitty. More gold coins followed and subsequently,
the group now has enough money to do a re-print.
Many ideas have been put forward regarding marketing.
We plan a book about the 50 artists and their
bollards. The Experience Gippsland tourism group
is attending the Melbourne International Flower
and Garden Show. This year, the theme is Creative
Gippsland and several of our bollards will feature.
A brochure highlighting our Arts Discovery Trail
is being produced, in partnership with Vic Health,
to distribute at the show.
|
