I worked throughout the Midwest as a community artist for many years. I’ve also been commissioned for some interesting  public artworks, here are a few of my favourites.

The Quandong Trail, Geraldton Cancer Centre

In 2016 I was commissioned to create the public artwork for the new Geraldton Cancer Centre at the Geraldton Hospital. 

My theme was the Quandong Tree and the rebated acrylic paint and laser-cut steel artwork covers three walls on the northern facade and also the east facing entry. The commonly used word 'quandong', originates from the Wiradjuri language in NSW. Its name is 'Warlgu' in our local Wadjarri. Quandong trees were once fairly common on undeveloped tracts of land within the boundaries of Geraldton, but have become scarce in recent times. Sadly most have been removed to make way for new buildings, roads and the railway line, including those originally situated to the rear of the Geraldton Regional Hospital and the new Cancer Centre site, and many more which made way for the Northwest Coastal Highway ring road and Port access. Quandongs were used as both a food source and medicinal aid for Yamaji people in times past. Ripe red quandong fruits were eaten raw or dried for later use.

Architect: Craig Poletti, Terry Baker (Eastman, Poletti and Sherwood)

Completion Date: November 2016 

Official Launch: November 2016

Location: Geraldton Regional Hospital

Quandong Panels- Protea House

I designed these laser-cut powder-coated aluminium panels (10 of) to provide privacy screening to the new Protea House residential facility at the Geraldton Regional Hospital, while also maintaining a visual narrative link with the Midwest Cancer Centre.

Builder: Crowthers Building Co

Completion Date: May 2018

Official Launch: June 2018

Location: Geraldton Regional Hospital

Luminous Dreams

In 2013 I was contracted by the University of Western Australia and the City of Geraldton, to work with Geraldton school groups to produce artwork for Sohan Ariel-Heyes in the creation of the film Luminous Dreams. 

As Geraldton resident artist for the project, I facilitated workshops with Midwest students, in conjunction with UWAs Aspire program. Nine workshops were held over a five day period involving five local schools (eight workshops in Geraldton and one in Mullewa) where images were produced for the film The Universe Unites Reconciliation Art Project

This was a Reconciliation Art Project, dreamed up by LCP project officer Lorraine Lambert and funded by the Geraldton Regional Community Education Centre, DIA Reconciliation Council and ICRAR (International Centre for Radio Astronomy and Research), CSIRO and Juvenile Justice with installation work contributed by Shane Crothers Homes. The projects aim was to produce three mosaic tiled satellite discs, one large one to be situated at the University Centre Geraldton and two smaller discs at OSCCAR (after School Care).  The artwork represents the Aboriginal night sky,  and a scientific view, and illustrate the necessary parallels between events in the sky, those on earth and those which occur in human culture. The project coincided with Western Australia’s SKA project. The artwork for the Aboriginal component was drawn by Yamaji Elder, Olive Boddington. I adapted Olive's drawing into a format for mosaic and  designed the complimentary scientific view.  Mosaic workshops were held across the Midwest Region, where I had participants work on portions of the design, which I later assembled in Geraldton. I traveled as far as Murchison and Mt Magnet, facilitating the mosaic workshops with young and old. 

The Universe Unites Reconciliation Art Project

This was a Reconciliation Art Project, dreamed up by LCP project officer Lorraine Lambert and funded by the Geraldton Regional Community Education Centre, DIA Reconciliation Council and ICRAR (International Centre for Radio Astronomy and Research), CSIRO and Juvenile Justice with installation work contributed by Shane Crothers Homes. The projects aim was to produce three mosaic tiled satellite discs, one large one to be situated at the University Centre Geraldton and two smaller discs at OSCCAR (after School Care).  The artwork represents the Aboriginal night sky,  and a scientific view, and illustrate the necessary parallels between events in the sky, those on earth and those which occur in human culture. The project coincided with Western Australia’s SKA project. The artwork for the Aboriginal component was drawn by Yamaji Elder, Olive Boddington. I adapted Olive's drawing into a format for mosaic and  designed the complimentary scientific view.  Mosaic workshops were held across the Midwest Region, where I had participants work on portions of the design, which I later assembled in Geraldton. I traveled as far as Murchison and Mt Magnet, facilitating the mosaic workshops with young and old. 

Lost in Geraldton

Lost was an art project I did as part of the regional tour of Shiver, a contemporary dance and theatre composition created by West Australian choreographer Danielle Micich, and produced by Performing Lines WA. Shiver played at the Queens Park Theatre, Geraldton, on September 29th, 2012. 

 My project consisted of a pop-up installation in Fitzgerald St and a display and installation at the Queens Park Theatre which followed contributions of 'lost' files by 100 Geraldton residents. 

 I had little notion of the depth of sadness that might be revealed to me in the course of this project. There were occasions when I was bought to tears by the experiences of participants. This is something of what I learned about 'Lost'.

 Each person carries their own interpretation of 'lost' and this may alter as circumstances and life experience change. A loss may seem minor to others, but still be life transforming; a loss can be trivialized yet still have deep personal significance and cause grief. Some losses are tragedies, horrific, resonating, cruel and heart-breaking. Loss is an enigma; it is unique and universal at the same time. 'Lost' is sad but it can be joyful. Lost can also be found. We are all so different yet we are all the same.