The construction of an Aboriginal feature artwork at Hugo
Street Reserve is the last stage of the City of Sydney’s plan to improve the area.
Over the past 24 months Pemulwuy
Park, Hugo Street Reserve and Yellowmundee Park have undergone improvements which
the councils hopes will make them safer, more functional and more inviting to
local residents.
Started in early 2005, work has included providing new park
furniture, improving footpaths, supplying better lighting and in the case of
Hugo Street Reserve, upgrading the basketball court.
Nicole Haines, a City Of Sydney senior project manager, said she
recognised the importance of the reserve to local residents.
“Since the work started I have had a few calls from
residents to see what’s going on. They are quite protective of that space and
they seem really happy to see the completion of the work,” she said.
The art fence, which will surround Hugo Street Reserve, is
the final step in the project.
The 70 metre by 2,4 metre fence has already been erected
replacing the damaged wire fence that was once there. All that is left is for
the new fence to be painted.
The person who has been charged with designing the art fence
project is Bronwyn Bancroft, a highly respected local Aboriginal artist.
Bancroft’s reputation, both as an artist and as an advocate
for Aboriginal rights, made her a perfect choice.
During the design process, Bancroft worked closely with
Redfern residents and held community meetings to get opinions on what the fence
should say and represent.
“This was really important in order to make sure
residents liked the fence,” said Bancroft. “Anyone could come along
and give feedback; we needed lots of open consultation.”
Along with input from the residents, the concept for the
design evolved as a result of her collaboration with architect Dale Jones-Evans.
The artwork will represent a series of ancestral figures
which Bancroft said would: “Protect the whole garden area, and make people
feel safe in the walls.”
Children from the community have been invited by Mereani Cooke, youth coordinator at Redfern
Community Centre, to paint the fence under Bancroft’s direction.
Project manager Ms Haines said that getting children and
teenagers involved would be great for them.
“We are getting kids involved who have an interest in
art.
“It’ll be great work experience for them and give them
skills that could really help in a workforce and their future. The more we have
discussed it the more we have got excited about it. It will be so
worthwhile,” she said.
Photos: The new fence with Bancroft’s design. Below: The old
fence surrounding the western boundary of Hugo Street Reserve.
Source: University
of Technology Precinct
South Sydney Edition Issue 4/2007 page 18.
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