PUBLIC ART IN OUR REGION

SOUTHERN DOWNS REGIONAL COUNCIL TOILET BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT
In 2019 seven amenities blocks in the northern part of the Southern Downs were transformed by artwork. The project was coordinated by Warwick Art Gallery with support from Southern Downs Regional Council with the aim to invigorate the spaces, attract visitors and generate community pride. After many years of drought and now COVID19 tourism kept the economy ticking and maintained community involvement despite the hardship. The Arts is an integral part of the tourism culture as it celebrates community identity and highlights what makes a town or village unique. Even the most practical and functional facilities can be transformed by art.

WARWICK ARTWORKS

Elysha Rei

Window of Worship

Grafton Street near the Post Office

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Karri McPherson

Serendipity and Serendipity 2

Mile End Park

ALLORA ARTWORK
 

Louise Tait

Into the Sun

Dalrymple Park

KILLARNEY ARTWORK
 

Nikki Wood

Tall Trees of Killarney

Browns Falls Park

LEYBURN ARTWORK
 

Sue Keong

Sprint, Spirit and Starry Skies

Liberator Park

LEYBURN MCINTYRE STREET HISTORIC ART TRAIL
Commencing in 2011 this incredible collection of public artwork has been created almost entirely by one artist. Elizabeth Young has painted all her life and saw an opportunity to transform the “ugly” safety barriers located in the town for the annual Historic Leyburn Sprints event into beautiful artworks. She started recreating a collection of paintings that honoured the old buildings in town and the project expanded onto other barriers and into other streets. Elizabeth loves her home town of Leyburn with a population of less than 500. She says “The people are very genuine and you develop deep friendships here”. Elizabeth also runs The Old Butcher Shop Gallery in Leyburn that will be open on the CCART weekend.

KILLARNEY SCULPTURES

The Killarney and District Historical Society worked tirelessly for eight years to secure funding for the creation of a sculpture to commemorate the town’s history. Artist Paul Stumkat created the figures which stand proud outside the Heritage Centre in Willow Street Killarney. Paul is an award winning Natural History Artist. He has developed skills and received numerous qualifications in a broad range of artistic and associated fields. With a background in museum preparation work, he has spent the last 27 years sculpting models of extinct animals, including taxidermy of some of Australia’s rarest marsupials. Paul’s experience in this field has been both local and international and his work has been commissioned by Australian museums and international collectors with some material used by the movie industry. This work features a sculpture of Killarney bullocky Eric Reis who had one of the area’s last working bullock teams.  Image: Paul Stumkat 

HORSE POWER - JOHN SIMPSON

The Horsepower: Warwick’s Story of the Horse sculpture celebrates horses and their unique role in shaping Warwick and pays homage to the Lighthorse Troop, farmers during World War 1 and Warwick’s love of horse sports. The sculpture, designed by the late John Simpson, is displayed prominently at Queens Park on the northern entrance to the city.