Public artists get works underway for Wellard

Three Western Australian artists have been selected from more than 60 applicants to create five unique artworks for the first phase of the Wellard Public Art Project.

The Project, which is being undertaken by joint venture partners Peet Limited and the Department of Housing and Works, aims to establish a series of iconic images for the estate and deliver significant community, cultural and educational outcomes for the local area.

The commissioned artworks include a mosaic outside the Wellard Train Station, a large-scale landmark sculpture and three smaller sculptures around the village centre.

The successful artists, Jenny Dawson, Tony Pankiw and Judith Forrest, are now hard at work creating their pieces in preparation for installation next year.

English born artist Judith Forrest will create a family of bush guardian sculptures for her three-piece display around the Village Centre. Cast in bronze, the three family members – father, mother and child – will each carry a different native animal.

The landmark sculpture will be created by award-winning artist Tony Pankiw, whose piece will depict a curved tree with three leaf outlines extending from the branches. These will become picture frames containing images of Wellard, like the train station and the sports ground.

Drawing on the history of the area, well known Western Australian mosaic artist Jenny Dawson and Nyoongar Visual Artist Sandra Hill, will create a colourful mosaic with a depiction of three spirit figures going on a journey at its centre. Trees and water will also feature heavily to highlight the historical importance of the Wellard region as a food gathering and hunting area.

Peet Limited Managing Director and CEO Brendan Gore said it was pleasing to have such a high calibre of local talent involved in the project

“Each of the artists has represented a core element of the estate in their design, with themes of family, history or the environment,” said Mr Gore.

“This will encourage a strong sense of community connection to the artworks as it reflects the environmental and social values the estate has been based upon.”

The Wellard Public Art Project comes on the back of the highly successful Community Art Project which recently resulted in the installation of a series of unique artworks, created by members of the local community, students from the Peter Carnley Anglican Community School and a team of youth participating in a local Green Corps project.

For more information about The Village at Wellard visit www.thevillageatwellard.com.au.