Community Art |City of Casey, Hampton Park Renewal Project – Public Sculpture

Hampton Park Renewal Project - Medicine Wheel Sculpture Unveiling Ceremony.  Kerryn Knight (left) with Counsellor Wayne Smith, Member of Parliament Judith Graley, Counsellor Damien Rosario, Aboriginal Elder Auntie Di Kerr and Michele Halsall
Hampton Park Renewal Project – Medicine Wheel Sculpture Unveiling Ceremony. Kez Knight (left) with Counsellor Wayne Smith, Member of Parliament Judith Graley, Counsellor Damien Rosario, Aboriginal Elder Auntie Di Kerr and Michele Halsall

City of Casey, Hampton Park -Public Sculpture – Coral Drive Renewal Project, Hampton Park VIC.  Facilitated by Kerryn Knight, the Dandenong Koorie Youth Group including  Aiden Van Beek, Brodie Sinclair, Breanna Hosking, Jessica Hosking, Kristal Brighton and Skye Thomas have assisted in the design and creation of a beautiful and colourful mosaic ‘Medicine Wheel’ depicting Aboriginal Totem Animals and their meanings as paralleled by the Seasons of our life.

The Aboriginal totem animals of the Dingo, Snake, Goanna and ‘Bunjil’ the Eagle Creator Spirit of the Wurundjeri and Bunurong People of the Kulin nation have been depicted in colourful mosaics and framed by footprints of the Koorie Youth Group embedded around the outer rim.  As you travel around the sculpture, your journey starts in the North with ‘Bunjil’ the Creator Spirit.  ‘Bunjil’ looks ahead with a bird’s eye view of the journey that awaits you.  With creativity and vision, you plan your path ahead.  Next you make your way to the East with the Goanna.  Footprints are bigger now.   The path is not always easy and the Goanna learns stillness and dignity in the face of difficulty.  Through courage, strength and endurance it succeeds and grows.  So too, you learn, succeed and grow on your journey.  Then you continue to the South where the Snake sheds it’s skin.  You, like the Snake make changes in your life, letting go of things not needed to continue on your journey and make way for the new.  Continuing on, you travel to the West where the Mother Dingo awaits you.  She helps you embody the changes you have made on your journey making you a whole new person through your gained awareness and wisdom.  And then you return home to your centre for healing and rest awhile in your new skin.  You then look to the path again to lead you on your next journey, and so continues the Seasons of your life.

The sculpture comprising a 2 meter diameter disc and seat has now been installed in the Hampton Park Coral Drive Tree Reserve, next to house number 91 Coral Drive, Hampton Park.  Below are some photos of the progress from inception to completion.

Sculpture Design progress 1

 

Foot prints

Sculpture footprints set in sculpture

Sculpture Bunjil Design before grouting

Sculpture Snake Design formation

Bunjil and Snake Quadrant mosaic prior to grouting

Dingo quadrant mosaic prior to grouting

 

Completed Medicine Wheel sculpture and Seat with Plaque