Jennifer Pittorino
Two renowned artists have been chosen to design the artwork for the new Footscray Hospital, taking the form of two tapestries.
Maribyrnong local Maree Clarke said she and Mitch Mahoney have collaborated on a design that pays homage to local Indigenous culture and the Maribyrnong River.
“After looking at the brief we decided to make use of the work I have been doing with river reeds for a number of years,” she said.
Through her art, Ms Clarke works to pass on cultural knowledge which she does through the making of river reed necklaces.
“River reeds were historically given to people as a sign of safe passage and friendship , so I continue to make necklaces for people passing through country,” she said.
“Last year I wen into the historical department and looked at the river reeds under a microscope, so we selected one of those images for the tapestry.”
To tie in more of the local landscape to the project, her great nephew Mr Mahoney designed a waterway from the Maribyrnong River.
“He used other elements from the landscape in line drawings which are really beautiful,” said Ms Clarke.
“We used pinks and yellows which are really beautiful, gentle and soft.”
Ms Clarke said the custom of giving river reed necklaces to visitors was a key factor in designing the piece for the hospital.
“As the hospital is where most people are born these days, we thought it is a nice welcome to them,” she said.
“But also on the flip side, it is also the place where a lot of people’s lives end, so river reeds can extend safe passage to leaving this realm and going to the other.
“We thought it was nice to combine those.”
The Australian Tapestry Workshop are currently making the two five-metre tapestries at the South Melbourne workshop, which Ms Clarke said is open for people to view before the opening of the hospital in 2025.
“There are 10 weavers currently working on it, they are working on 10cm a week for the next 12 months,” she said.
“There is a viewing platform open where people can go see while it is being made.”
