AN art installation featuring 200 personalities that helped shape the city of Bathurst has captured the community’s imagination.
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Peoplescape, part of Bathurst200 celebrations, was officially launched by Bathurst mayor Gary Rush at the foregrounds of Bathurst Courthouse yesterday as part of Heritage Week, the feature week of the Bathurst200 celebrations.
Councillor Rush said the Peoplescape project had captured the community’s imagination.
He said students, community groups and artists created amazing works of art, representing people of significance to Bathurst.
“Colourful and imaginative figures represent artists such as Tim Storrier and Brett Whitely, historical figures George Evans, Governor Macquarie, Ben Hall and Dr George Busby, well known motor racing personality Peter Brock and present day members of the community such as Margy Gaal,” he said.
Project co-ordinator Jan Page said each of the figures created had been researched by their designers, and had been a particularly interesting project for the school groups involved.
She said the detail in the figures, the colour and the high standard of the art work “are incredible”.
Bathurst High School art teacher Bernadette Wood said more than 100 people were nominated from the school for their personalities. Nine were picked including sporting heroes, intellectuals and community leaders.
She said the students researched their person, with many of them, where possible, interviewing them in person.
“The students worked in collaboration doing research and coming up with a design,” she said.
Jake Sheader, along with Emerson Mobbs-Wright, portrayed Lawrie Crawford in the installation, and said he learnt a lot during the project.
“We interviewed him at school and learnt a lot, it was great fun, and he was really nice,” he said.
Ms Wood said the significance of the installation could not be underestimated
“In terms of art education, contemporary art is about connecting with the community, and this was a wonderful opportunity to do that,” she said.
“Being involved in this meant we were part of something really special.
“I’m really happy with the results, and very proud of the students.”
