Mossman masterpiece for new Woolies
Friday October 18 2013
Mossman masterpiece for new Woolies
A group of Douglas Shire women are working to make sure the new Front Street Woolworths in Mossman will be more than just another big concrete building.
Under the direction of Douglas Arts Base (DAB), 12 artists – four from Yalanji Arts and eight from Douglas Arts Base (DAB) – have put pencil to paper to collaborate a larger-than-life art project for the exterior wall of the shopping complex, recreating five scenes representing Mossman’s history, with help from Douglas Shire Historical Society (DSHS) to ensure historical accuracy.
Woolworths Limited recently agreed the DSHS could submit a proposal for an historical mural and pending approval, the mural will be displayed on the exterior of the new building currently under construction and set to open early 2014.
The scenes are thematic of the Kuku Yalanji culture and story, early cedar tree cutters, European settlers and Old Mossman town, the Mossman Mill and canegrowers, and the present day Mossman Gorge.
“It had to be authentic; the story and characters, the things that [the cedar cutters or cane farmers] used,” explained artist Inger Rowe, who is working on panel two of five intended.
Each scene will be turned into a digital artwork, magnified four times, and recreated by Woolworths designers as a perforated metal image on one of five steel panels measuring 4.8 metres by 1.5 metres. As the name suggests, the modern art form, also known as ‘Punched Out Pictures’, punches different sized holes into a blank sheet of metal. When placed against a black background, the holes create the light and shadow of the original image.
“This is a different concept for the DAB artists, who are relishing their new challenge,” said DSHS spokesperson and project coordinator, Pam Willis Burden.
“It’s a new, contemporary approach,” said DAB artist Deirdre Whitely, a member of Panel 2.
“All of the images need to be easily identifiable, so you're working with line, light and shade,” explained Ms Whitely.
“Plus, if you're driving past you won't necessarily stop. You have to be able to immediately recognise what [the image] is,” said Ms Rowe.
During their latest meeting, it’s obvious the ladies have become friends, collectively dedicated and committed - artistically and historically – to the project.
As the five scenes are laid end to end for the first time, the women start debating and clarifying, rearranging images and reaching for reference books for confirmation.
“The (sugar) mill is in the background wherever you go in Mossman,” says Billie Noli, of Panel 4. “And the railway line is supposed to be going to the mill, otherwise it's going off into mid-air.”
Yalanji Arts Coordinator and Panel 1 artist, Sheryl Burchill, said as well as telling the story of Mossman, the project proved “art groups are alive and well in the Shire.”
The women have until 12.30pm on Wednesday, October 23 to finish their panel artwork, before it’s sent to Philippe Petey of Coastline Graphics and Copy Shop in Port Douglas for a digital makeover.
“That’s when we open the champagne!” joked Ms Whitely.
The Artists
Yalanji – Panel 1: Sheryl Burchill, Kirsty Burchil, Vanessa Cannon, Lenice Schonenberger
Cedar – Panel 2: Inger Rowe, Deirdre Whiteley
Old Mossman town streetscape - Panel 3: Robyn Kendall, Billie Noli
Cane farming - Panel 4: Jeanette Yarr, Pat Lane
Gorge – Panel 5: Ellen Terrell, Carol Edelberg
