Inner West’s public art celebrating Aboriginal culture and heritage wins major award
Friday 5 November 2021
Inner West Council has won the prestigious Leo Kelly OAM Arts and Culture Award for the Gadigal Wangal Wayfinding Project.
The Local Government NSW annual Leo Kelly Arts and Culture Award recognises councils that have excelled in strategic policy, planning, delivery and evaluation in arts and culture.
In 2016, Council received funding from the NSW Government through the Stronger Communities Programme to commission five art installations, one for each ward of the Local Government Area.
After a critical investigation into the Gadigal Wangal landscape of the Inner West was completed, artists were then invited to respond to the site-specific research and depict an element of the rich and unique Gadigal and Wangal culture.
The Gadigal Wangal Wayfinding project works comprise:
•Gurugal – Yagu – Barrabugu by Jasmine Sarin (2020), Camperdown Memorial Rest Park, Newtown. Reflecting Midjuburi (Lillypilly) Marrickville Ward
•Gadigal mural (2019) by Tim Phibs, PJ Simon, Kevin May and Joanne Cassady at Gadigal Reserve, Summer Hill. Reflecting Djarrawunang (Magpie) Ashfield Ward
•Fish Traps by Edwards Clarke (2019), King George Park, Balmain. Reflecting Baludarri (Leather Jacket) Balmain Ward
•Cadi – The Clansman by Blak Douglas aka Adam Hill (2019), Hawthorne Reserve, Leichhardt. Reflecting Gulgadya (Grass Tree) Leichhardt Ward
•Nawi by Joe Hirst (2019), Steel Park, Marrickville. Reflecting Midjuburi (Lillypilly) Marrickville Ward
“The award is wonderful recognition of these five amazing artworks,” said Inner West Mayor Rochelle Porteous.
“The beautiful installations all encapsulate an element of our rich and unique Gadigal and Wangal Aboriginal culture.
“The works add to the Inner West’s public art collection, deepen our connection to place and enrich our knowledge of pre- and post-colonised Inner West.
“I congratulate the artists and our staff who brought this remarkable project to fruition. The award is much deserved and a fitting tribute to their hard work,” Mayor Porteous said.
For a print quality image of one of the artworks or artists, contact the Communication team.
For media enquiries, contact Elizabeth Heath | Media and Communications Coordinator | 9392 5334 | Elizabeth.Heath@innerwest.nsw.gov.au