Published Monday, 11 August, 2008 at 06:20 PM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
WHAT DO 150 PIECES OF QUEENSLAND ADD UP TO? A GIANT MOSAIC
EKKA: Premier Anna Bligh today announced the start of an arts project where communities from around the State can create their own piece of Queensland to make up a gigantic mosaic that will be permanently hung at the RNA Showgrounds beginning with the EKKA in 2009.
Ms Bligh said the 41 square metre project would be administered through local Councils and professionally curated by Salvatore Di Mauro, senior lecturer in design from Griffith University’s Queensland College of Art.
“Each Council in Queensland is about to receive two Queensland’s 150th Celebration 2009 (Q150) tiles which are loosely in the shape of Queensland, one to depict the past and one to depict the future,” Ms Bligh said.
“If a picture paints a thousand words, just think how many individual community stories, this mammoth mosaic can tell us now and our children’s children in the years to come.
“What’s so great is that this project opens the door to the collective creative flair of communities to say it how it is; whether that’s celebrating achievements or lessons learned from the past and what they aspire to achieve in the future.
“Through Councils this project taps the creative talent of artists, school children or volunteer clubs, for instance.
“What’s important is that it is a collaborative effort rather than the work of only one person.
“This project brings the Q150 theme all together. It will be by people from places all around Queensland telling their stories.
“Our people, our places our stories - that’s what next year’s celebrations are all about.
“It’s up to Councils and their communities to see how creative they can be in using this project to mark Queensland’s 150th anniversary of separation from New South Wales.
“So everyone with an eye for art, grab your paint brushes and your brilliant ideas and see your local Councillor to find out how you can get involved.”
Ms Bligh said the mosaic art kit which includes the tiles, template for initial designs and guidelines outlining criteria would be distributed to Councils in September with finished artwork due back for curation by Mr Di Mauro by April 2009.
The artwork is not restricted to painted surfaces and can include some three-dimensional elements.
“I’m delighted we have been able to secure the assistance and expertise of Mr Di Mauro for this project," she said.
“Originally from Innisfail in North Queensland, Mr Di Mauro is an award winning design educator with a strong background in working with local communities to develop public artwork,” she said.
Mr Di Mauro said the 150th anniversary was a prime catalyst for the community to reflect on the past and realise a sense of belonging.
“We are just at the right time in this millennium to re-assess and move into the next period of history.
“The mosaic artwork project gives people involved the opportunity to define who they are in a collaborative environment.
“They have the opportunity to release creativity and understand that all contributions each person makes are valuable.
“The inclusive rather than exclusive approach of this project encourages respect for what other people have rather than dwelling on comparisons, and that’s what makes it a valuable contribution to the art that will define who we as Queenslanders are at this juncture in history,” he said.
Media contact: 3224 4500
Ms Bligh said the 41 square metre project would be administered through local Councils and professionally curated by Salvatore Di Mauro, senior lecturer in design from Griffith University’s Queensland College of Art.
“Each Council in Queensland is about to receive two Queensland’s 150th Celebration 2009 (Q150) tiles which are loosely in the shape of Queensland, one to depict the past and one to depict the future,” Ms Bligh said.
“If a picture paints a thousand words, just think how many individual community stories, this mammoth mosaic can tell us now and our children’s children in the years to come.
“What’s so great is that this project opens the door to the collective creative flair of communities to say it how it is; whether that’s celebrating achievements or lessons learned from the past and what they aspire to achieve in the future.
“Through Councils this project taps the creative talent of artists, school children or volunteer clubs, for instance.
“What’s important is that it is a collaborative effort rather than the work of only one person.
“This project brings the Q150 theme all together. It will be by people from places all around Queensland telling their stories.
“Our people, our places our stories - that’s what next year’s celebrations are all about.
“It’s up to Councils and their communities to see how creative they can be in using this project to mark Queensland’s 150th anniversary of separation from New South Wales.
“So everyone with an eye for art, grab your paint brushes and your brilliant ideas and see your local Councillor to find out how you can get involved.”
Ms Bligh said the mosaic art kit which includes the tiles, template for initial designs and guidelines outlining criteria would be distributed to Councils in September with finished artwork due back for curation by Mr Di Mauro by April 2009.
The artwork is not restricted to painted surfaces and can include some three-dimensional elements.
“I’m delighted we have been able to secure the assistance and expertise of Mr Di Mauro for this project," she said.
“Originally from Innisfail in North Queensland, Mr Di Mauro is an award winning design educator with a strong background in working with local communities to develop public artwork,” she said.
Mr Di Mauro said the 150th anniversary was a prime catalyst for the community to reflect on the past and realise a sense of belonging.
“We are just at the right time in this millennium to re-assess and move into the next period of history.
“The mosaic artwork project gives people involved the opportunity to define who they are in a collaborative environment.
“They have the opportunity to release creativity and understand that all contributions each person makes are valuable.
“The inclusive rather than exclusive approach of this project encourages respect for what other people have rather than dwelling on comparisons, and that’s what makes it a valuable contribution to the art that will define who we as Queenslanders are at this juncture in history,” he said.
Media contact: 3224 4500