NADA were engaged by Health Infrastructure to work with Gumbaynggirr community from the three catchment towns that feed into the new Macksville Hospital: Macksville, Nambucca Heads and Bowraville.
From consultation with these communities came the unified theme Juluum-nyarr gaagal-gu (from the mountains—to the sea) that would become the starting point for the design process.
There were two distinct areas for artwork creation:
Wall art
NADA with Gumbaynggirr artists and Elders facilitated art workshops with high schools from the catchment area. Fourteen artworks sharing stories of culture and the theme Juluum-nyarr gaagal-gu were selected from more than 60 artworks created by Aboriginal high school students from Nambucca Heads High School, Macksville High School, and Bowraville Central School.
These artworks were used to create this impressive contemporary artwork now installed in the hospital. The selected youth artists were paid a license fee for the use of their artwork and are acknowledged in a storyboard situated close to the artwork.
Weaving ART
Gumbaynggirr weavers — Aunty Lauren Jarrett, Jasmine Stadhams and Denise Buchanan — designed and worked on three large-scale woven artworks representing Juluum-nyarr gaagal-gu (Mountains to the Sea).
‘It is Gumbaynggirr journey symbolising our connection to the dreaming and creation stories. We have recreated the Muurrbay tree (White Fig) also known as the ‘Tree of Life’. It teaches that greed is not beneficial for our tribe’s wellbeing. We also made the Yarrahapinni Mountain which represents a passage of travel and the Billabong which symbolises interconnectedness between freshwater survival and land. The Badawi (Brolga) is the Mother, a female creation ancestor, and the Gurruuja (whales) which portrays saltwater and migratory routes, along the east coast from May to November, and strong connections with Gumbaynggirr people’.
From 3 Weavers
The weavers worked with students from Nambucca High School, Macksville High School and Bowraville Central School, the Bowraville Aboriginal Women’s Group, the C.W.A Macksville NSW Branch and wider community to create the weaving art installed in the hospital foyer.
The large metal frames were developed and built by local designer, maker, artist, and sculptor John van der Kolk.
Photo credit: And The Trees Photography
