'Inspired by the iconic character of the Cowardly Lion in the story 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' and his contemplation of what it means to possess the courage to be yourself, no matter who you are.'

'Courage' honours the contribution, culture and diversity of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (GLBTIQ) community, and is dedicated to the legacy of Ralph McLean (1957–2010), Australia’s first openly gay elected official (City of Fitzroy, 1982) and Mayor (1984), an advocate for gay rights and social justice, and a champion of the arts.

Bronze statue of a male figure half dressed in a lion costume holding a medal of bravery with a lions head/mask resting on his foot.

Accompanying plaque

lgtbqia+, wizard oz, ralph mclean, eicholtz

"The work gestures towards Utopian, modernist public art, like that of Miro, Matisse and Sainte-Phalle, but I was also inspired by Yarra's own Keith Haring murals, in the way that he repeats his personal iconography to fill a chosen space. I wanted to make an expansive, open and inclusive artwork. I drew legs from women playing footy, cricket and soccer, but tried to draw them in the least heroic, least literal way possible."

Commissioned as part of an upgrade project at the Malcolm Graham Pavilion, Kevin Bartlett Reserve, Burnley, 2020. The existing facilities were upgraded to include female change rooms and amenities. The project funding comes from Yarra City Council and the State Government through its Female Friendly Facilities Fund. The commission is a result of Yarra's Public Art Policy 2015 - 2020 which ensures Council commits a percentage of the capital works budget for new community infrastructure projects.

Matisse and Sainte-Phalle, Keith Herring, Miro, Modernist

Copyright the artist

A series of abstracted legs in various shapes that jump, kick and run across the wall, activating and animating the space with bold, bright colours.

accompanying plaque

sport, women, installation, modernism

'Drop Zone', is set in an imagined future where decreasing water availability has affected us more dramatically than anyone predicted. The water shortage has become so severe that we have to access water on a first-come first-serve basis, from military-like water ‘drop zones’, like this one, made from modified rain water tanks. These tanks function on three levels: Collected rain water causes the totem sculptures to rise and bloom; evaporation causes the totem sculptures to fall; and an anemometer (device that measures wind speed) drives a process that plays the tank like a giant drum, tuned by the amount of water contained within. This artwork envisions a future for Australia where the impact of decreasing water availability has had a more dramatic effect than any of the predictions. The shortage is so severe that military-like water ‘drop zones’, constructed of modified rainfall storage tanks have been established across the public parks of the City of Yarra for access on a first come, first serve basis. However, as the water is only replenished through rain catchment the tanks may only offer infrequent relief for the City of Yarra residents, standing as hollow reminders of the effects of inaction on the shaping of sustainable national water use.

'Drop Zone' was one of three public art works installed in Yarra, in 2011, under the banner of The Environmental Public Arts Project which responded to key features of Council's Environment Strategy: 'Towards Local Sustainability 2008-2020.' The aims of this project included activating public spaces in new and creative ways through the creation of artworks which act as catalysts for further engagement and discussion around environmental themes and issues.

Copyright the Artists.

Ready-made corrugated water tanks arranged on a site. Situated within the tanks are small totemic sculptures that float on top of the water within the tank.

Accompanying plaque

sustainability, water, environment, climate change

'The first panel celebrates the long history of runners that use the park. Richmond Harriers Athletics Club was established in 1913 and is the oldest athletics club in Victoria. The central panel depicts young female footballers and recognises female athletes and the popularity of women and girls' teams in contemporary sports. The final panel depicts a children’s cricket match. The young players are represented through the depiction of a game that is part of our national psyche and firmly entrenched in Australian culture.'

Inner-city parks like Citizens Park have many diverse uses. They provide places to play, to exercise and to relax. They are spaces for community and are often subject to competing values and interests. The re-development of the Jack Dyer Pavilion at Citizens Park allows for the growth of the local community’s diverse interests and values and enables participation and interaction. 'The Park' focuses on the recreational uses of Citizens Park and its role as a community space in an area that is changing rapidly. The mural consists of three panels that address inclusivity and access to sport. Three core sporting groups who each utilize the pavilion and park as a public recreational space are represented: children, sport teams and runners. In fostering the representation of these groups, the panels also attest to the past, present, and future of this important space.

Three sporting groups are represented: athletics/runners, women footballers in line formation and young cricketers in action/play.

Accompanying plaque

sport, women, community, richmond, parks

"Situated at the intersection of three major arterial flows – a railway, a freeway and the Birrarung river, the Mary Rogers Pavilion is a place where people are drawn together through movement. The artwork 'Momentum' draws on the coalescing flows of traffic, sound, air, time, water, and human kinetic energy, mapped together into a horizon of oscillating lines."

'Momentum' was commissioned for the new Mary Rogers Sports Pavilion at Ryans Reserve, Richmond, a $3 million redevelopment in partnership with the Victorian Government. Named after the former City of Richmond Mayor, the pavilion is home to the Yarra Netball Association as well as acrylic surfaced courts which cater to netball, local tennis players and groups. The new pavilion meets legislative, functional, disability access and environmental sustainability requirements, allowing the club to grow, provide greater flexibility and capacity to train and host competitions. 'Momentum' is a result of Council’s Public Art Policy 2015-2020, which ensures Council commits a percentage of the capital works budget for new community infrastructure projects over $1 million dollars to an integrated art component.

A landscape/horizon of oscillating black lines (waves) and sun filled in with warm colours.

accompanying plaque

sport, mary rogers, women, birrarung, energy, movement

Kamilaroi artist Reko Rennie’s vision is an inclusive environment where people can sit and peacefully reflect on, mourn and acknowledge the deep trauma of the past, as well as connect with the ongoing strength and resilience of the Aboriginal community and support the process of healing. 'Remember Me' symbolises community resilience, identity and family. Positioned in a ceremonial ring, the seating and spears create a circle of gathering and remembrance within the park. In a contemporary and historical sense, the spear is an emblematic statement about struggle and adversity, and it is also an expression of identity and connection to land and culture.

The 'Stolen Generations Marker, Remember Me', reflects the community’s wish to create a permanent tribute to the Stolen Generations and their families; a place of reflection and respectful commemoration. Integral to this is the surrounding garden with plants local to the area that have been re-introduced into the setting. Sited at the historically important Meeting Place in the heart of Aboriginal Fitzroy, the artwork honours not only the story of this place, but of all Aboriginal people who were taken away. This project was guided by the Stolen Generations Marker Steering Group and realised by Yarra City Council in partnership with the Victorian Government. Most importantly, it has received widespread grassroots community support. It was officially launched on the 20th anniversary of National Sorry Day (26 May 2018), which acknowledges the impact of the policies spanning more than 150 years of forcible removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. On 26 May 1997 the landmark 'Bringing Them Home' report was tabled in Federal Parliament. The report was the result of a national inquiry that investigated the forced removal of Indigenous children from their families. This was a pivotal moment for many Stolen Generations. It was the first time the stories of forced removal were formally acknowledged by the Government and a recognition that these actions were inhumane. The impacts have been lifelong and intergenerational.

A collection of bronze spears and a coolamon with accompanying seating, lighting and landscaping positioned in a ceremonial ring.

stolen generations, fitzroy

'Queep-Queep’ means ‘birds’ in Woi-wurrung language—the language of the Wurundjeri people—the Traditional Owners of the land on which the building is standing. Referencing what lived and flourished in this area prior to European invasion, the artwork acknowledges the important Aboriginal history of the area now known as the City of Yarra. The six native birds depicted in the artwork can all be found living within the City of Yarra: the male red-rumped parrot, kookaburra, superb fairy wren, rainbow lorikeet, raven, and wedge-tailed eagle. Many south-eastern Aboriginal people recognise the wedge-tailed eagle as Bunjil—the creator spirit. Bunjil is the head of the Kulin Nation and is very powerful. Bunjil created the land, waterways, animals, plants and even the people. He is watching over the land to ensure that we are caring for Country—reminding us to respect ourselves, respect others and respect the environment.

'Queep-Queep' is a site-specific artwork commissioned for the new Richmond Kindergarten, Lord Street, Richmond, 2023.

Two aluminium birds (a wedge-tailed eagle and a raven) at the entrance to the building, and a large, colourful mural of Australian native birds painted in a graphic style on the other side of the wall facing into the playground.

accompanying plaque

birds, bunjil, country, kulin nation, environment, public art

'Close Knit' was conceived based around providing the high density accommodation of the area with what many residents will never experience; the iconic ‘Aussie’ backyard, symbolised by washing on a Hills Hoist. This concept was transposed into several elements, including two large flying jumper sculptures. These stainless steel and fibreglass structures are supported on slanted poles, reminiscent of Hills Hoist arms. The jumpers appear to catch the breeze, and billow up, like washing on the clothesline on a sunny day, and cast lovely shadows across the paths and gardens. They are bright and joyful reminders of simple homespun joys. The handcraft theme is also featured in knitted concrete garden walls throughout the gardens. As if the wind is captured in the movement of the Hellenistic drapery, these panels echo the Lady of Justice, an earlier work of mine on the Victorian County Court. These feature walls bring a softness to the park and hark back to classic European garden design. There are 6 finial/balls of wool marking gateways and entrances to the park, as well as a couple randomly scattered throughout to be discovered. There is also a draped plinth at the Peel street entrance which has my signature. Again these elements echo traditional garden design and are a tactile and recognizable link to the hand knit themes of the park. Given the strong themes of domesticity and handcrafts, I have titled my work ‘Close Knit’, as it applies to the purpose of this public space as well as the works scattered throughout.

Yarra City Council delivered Cambridge Street Reserve in partnership with the Victorian Government, who have supported the project with $1.3m funding. Yarra City Council has invested a further $731,130 towards the project. Urban Imitative Landscape Design worked with artist William Eicholtz at the beginning of the design process to consider the needs of a growing high-density population of the area. At double the size, with extensive park seating and a large lawn space which is shaded by native trees, Cambridge Street Reserve is now the largest park in Collingwood.

'Close Knit' by William Eicholtz

Two knitted fibreglass 'jumpers' over stainless steel framework; six concrete balls of wool throughout the park; 25 metres of cast (drapery) concrete walls; concrete plinth at Peel street entry which is draped with a concrete knit and a ball of wool on top as finial; reverse rope reliefs on the front façade of eastern stairs.

Artist name and date 'William Eicholtz 2023' inscribed on plinth with ball of wool on top as finial.

handcrafts, domesticity, aussie icons, european garden design, public space, high density accomodation

"The fist references the Black Lives Matter movement and also represents the strength of Indigenous peoples all over the world and symbolises solidarity and justice for everyone affected by systematic racism. Bunjil (wedge-tailed eagle) is flying high on the building. He is the creator spirit for Wurundjeri people who looks over us and protects us. Bunjil represents healing and power to our people. The blue circles and lines represent revival and waterways; in particular, they depict the Birrarung (Yarra River), which is very significant for the Wurundjeri people. Our people are known as the Manna Gum people. The leaves in the artwork highlight Wurundjeri people and their Country. These leaves also represent the cleansing of negative spirits. The Manna Gum leaf is also an important symbolic offering in our traditional Welcome to Country ceremony. Leaves are offered to visitors as they are granted safe passage through our land. They are made welcome to everything from the tops of the trees to the roots of the earth. We ask that they take care of the land, plants and animals and to respect the protocols and rules of the Traditional Owners whilst on our Country."

In 2020 Council declared its support for the global Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. In consultation with Yarra City Council's Yana Ngargna advisory group a motion was prepared and passed unanimously by all Councillors. A number of actions were generated from this decision; one of which was for Council to commission a large-scale mural that aligned with the movement. Emerging artist Ky-ya Nicholson-Ward, a proud Wurundjeri, Dja Dja Wurrung, Nguarai Illam-Wurrung, German and Irish woman, created the mural installed on a building in Peel Street Park, Collingwood. Selected by Council's Yana Ngargna, Black Lives Matter Working Group the artwork identifies the cultural importance of the local area to the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people as the Traditional Owners. With a strong focus on Aboriginal identity the mural outlines the local context of the Black Lives Matter movement, which is connected to racism, policing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and associated deaths in custody. The artwork acknowledges the ongoing challenges faced by Aboriginal community members and their struggle to survive white systems, policies and institutions. Ky-ya's mural tells the story of Aboriginal resilience, strength and self-determination; and will support the process of healing. It is a celebration of the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community; the significant Aboriginal history of Fitzroy, Collingwood and surrounds; and community's continuing cultural connection to the area. Importantly, this artwork provides a platform to educate a broader audience about the local context of the Black Lives Matter movement and Aboriginal deaths in custody. The mural will activate this site, enliven the area, promote inclusion, incite conversation and contribute to the creative capital of this locale. A welcoming environment for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities.

Aboriginal Lives Matter Ky-ya Nicholson Ward

On a black background a hand fist (strength, solidarity and justice) is placed at the centre of the building; Bunjil (wedge-tailed eagle) is depicted flying high on the building; blue circles and lines represent revival and waterways (Birrarung-Yarra River) and the leaves in the artwork highlight Wurundjeri people (cleansing of spirit and welcome to Country)

The artist name 'Ky-ya Nicholson Ward' painted in white, low right of the wall facing into Peel Street Park.

black lives matter (blm) movement, wurundjeri woi wurrung, bunjil, identity, birrarung, country

Wooden and brass municipal stamp. Two section of the wooden handle are turned. There is a shank on the brass section into which the wooden handle inserts. . .

Inscription around outer edge. "East Collingwood / Municipality". In centre of stamp is a royal crest.