A traditional indigenous Welcome to Country is greeting visitors to Footscray following completion of Maribyrnong’s first council-commissioned public artwork.
Wominjeka Tarnuk Yooroom (Welcome Bowl) to welcome newly arrived migrants and refugees as well as the wider Footscray community and visitors.
The $180,000 artwork was unveiled last week on the corner of Paisley and Nicholson streets.
Consisting of 10 large bluestones forming the shape of a traditional ‘coolamon’, a wooden vessel used to hold burning leaves and foliage at traditional Welcome to Country ceremonies, the artwork emits a fine mist of water in certain weather to mimic the coolamon’s smoking effect.
Maribyrnong arts and cultural advisory board chairman Cr Martin Zakharov said the council was committed to developing public art projects in Maribyrnong.
Cr Zakharov said it was important for the community to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.
