Some of Footscray’s most significant contributors are featured in a public exhibition at the new Footscray Hospital site.
A joint art commission between Plenary Health and official arts partner Footscray Community Arts, the Faces of Footscray exhibition features eight large-scale portraits of hospital staff, volunteers and community members along the Geelong Road hoarding.
Launched by Footscray MP Katie Hall on Monday, April 3, the project combines video and photography by local visual artists Mika Tran and Thuy Vy.
Featured members of the Footscray community are Betty Millett, Ray Pereira, Larissa MacFarlane, Paw K’Pru Say Kaw, Professor Vasso Apostolopoulos, Uncle Larry Walsh, Dr Emina Hajdarevic and Mohamed Semra.
Plenary Health Footscray hospital project chair Kelvyn Lavelle said the exhibition celebrates the stories of people who help make the west a healthy and vibrant community.
“We are working hard to make sure the New Footscray Hospital will be a welcoming and safe precinct for everyone,” he said.
“By sharing their individual stories, our Faces of Footscray are helping connect the western suburbs community to their new hospital.”
Situated on the corner of Ballarat Road and Geelong Road and delivered by the Plenary health consortium in partnership with Western Health and the Victorian Health Building Authority, the new Footscray hospital is set to open in 2025.
Footscray Community Arts artistic director Daniel Santangeli said they are pleased to support the project to promote art and creativity.
“As one of Australia’s leading community arts centres, we are excited to play such an important role in connecting the community to art and creativity through Faces of Footscray and integrated art throughout the new hospital,” he said.
Details: footscrayarts.com/event/faces-of-footscray
Matthew Sims
