The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects once stated: ” The Indigenous artworks at Leighton comprise of seven separate mosaic artworks depicting dreamtime stories and the local history of the Aboriginal people. The mosaics were designed in consultation with indigenous Elders and form part of the site’s transition from a railway marshalling yard and container storage area to a vibrant beachside hub. These artworks record a small but important part of the local Aboriginal heritage for posterity and as such they provide added interest and value to the project. We also hope that they help provide a better understanding of Aboriginal culture in Perth. “
The above is taken from ‘www.aila.org.au’.The site writes about Fremantle’s Leighton Beach Development Indigenous Mosaic Artworks. All the works were produced at Fremantle’s J Shed Art Studio.
LINK to the article: http://www.aila.org.au/projects/wa/LeightonBeach/more.htm
Sandra Hill (Nyoongar visual artist) in collaboration with Jenny Dawson (Ceramic Artist-J Shed Art Studio) translated stories passed on by the elders into this beautiful series of pavement mosaics. Amongst them was Ken Colbung. Other Nyoongar artists involved were Esandra Colbung, Sharon Egan, Peter Farmer, Kylie Garlett,Vanessa Corunna and Sharna Mippy. The elders stories were collected by Sandra and stored in the Batty Library collection.
Below is one the one of the seven mosaics from the Fremantle-Leighton Project (photo by Peter Zuvela). ‘The Walyalup (Fremantle) Dreaming’ by J Shed Art Studio. Art Work design by Esandra Colbung. Part of the Fremantle story.
The Walyalup Dreaming was first mentioned in writing in the 19th century by F. Armstrong who in 1836 wrote: “They state, as a fact handed down to them from their ancestors, that Garden Island was formerly united to the main, and that the separation was caused, in some preternatural manner, by the Waugal” (F. Armstrong 1836).
The work was completed in 2007. In 2008 the project won the Landscape Architects of Australia award for art in Public Places.