Celebrating the beat of local art
The book features stories of how Gippsland communities responded to difficult times through art.
Local artist Ingrid Thomas told of the formation of Women Who Mean Business which morphed into the Women’s Compass Network.
This West Gippsland group oversaw installation of the mosaic compass rose in Burke St park and bollards along the Linear Trail.
She said, in many ways, these groups set the base for what is now the Baw Baw Arts Alliance.
When approached for the book, Ms Thomas said she was keen to help celebrate what had been achieved by local women through community art projects.
She said the walking track bollards had snowballed from an initial 12 bollards to 40.
Inspired by Maery Gabriel and Eileen
Harrison, the mosaic compass rose was completed by 24 women and captures all that is Gippsland – including mountains, lakes, skiing, bushfires and farming.
However, Ms Thomas also recalls a time when the group faced an anti-public art sentiment. She attributed this to the falling of controversial Warragul public artwork “Cloud”.
Consisting of coloured wind vanes on a cable structure over South Rd, “Cloud” fell in 2006 before being re-designed and reinstated in 2007. Just a few months later it was wrecked in gusty winds and dismantled for good.
Compiled by Dr June Alexander and Sarah Cannata, “Art Beat of the Country”, is filled with stories that document the firsthand reflections of women involved in two art and community projects in the Gippsland region spanning from 1997 to 2007.
“The women, many now in their 70s and 80s, reflect on what happens when opportunity is provided to develop self-respect, focus on goals, and collaborate for amazing outcomes,” said Dr Alexander. “Threads in women’s stories weave a rich tapestry of social history that preserves the voices, thoughts and feelings of making do and finding solutions during difficult times. Besides addressing issues of financial hardship and low self-esteem, the art projects provided relief from undercurrents of mental health issues, domestic violence, loneliness and isolation.”
She also believes the book unearths important takeaways that can be applied during challenging times, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic.
“Art Beat of the Country” is available to buy as a PDF online via bit.ly/2TgKVg6.