Previous Client

PROJECT NAME:

Newman Town Centre Park

Newman Town Centre Park concept design, 2009

CLIENT:

Country Arts WA with BHP Legacy Project with Curious Works

ARTISTS:

Margaret Dillon, Eveline Kotai, Judith Forrest, Nancy Lumsden, Cheryl Botha, writer Elaine Tribbick and landscape architect Francis Kotai

BUDGET:

$300,000

TIMEFRAME:

2009 – 2010 with park construction to be completed by 2011

COMMISSION
STYLE:

Invitation artist lead project

ARTSOURCE APPROACH:

Artsource was invited by Country Arts WA to propose a Public Art Program for the Town of Newman. The proposal for the design of a town centre park with incorporated artworks and stand alone works that may be sited in other areas of the town was accepted and funded by BHP Billiton Iron Ore Legacy Project in partnership with Country Arts and Curious works.

ABOUT THE WORK:

Margaret Dillon was invited as lead artist to identify a landscape architect to assist with the process - Francis Kotai. Margaret conducted a number of workshops with residents and artists of Newman and identified stories and skills to incorporate into the final artwork. Judith Forrest was invited to interpret the Newman story, resulting in 4 delightful morphing bronze works. Eveline Kotai was engaged to design a major multipurpose element for the park and to interpret the work of local quilter Cheryl Botha to create stencil designs for concrete paving. Local Artist Nancy Lumsden has been invited to design for a number of hard landscaping elements including tree grates and guards and local writer Elaine Tribbick has been commissioned to write a children’s story about Newman to be etched into the concrete play elements. The construction of the park will take place in 2010, funded by the Shire in partnership with BHP. The process of an artist team working within the community to highlight and draw out stories has been enormously successful in generating ideas and creating opportunities for local artists. The artists experience working directly with the landscape architect has been an exceptionally rewarding one and has informed the professional approach of all team members.

LOCATION:

Newman, WA