“In Our Hands”, Dickson ACT
“IN OUR HANDS” is a mural painted in collaboration with Faith Kerehona and funded as a placemaking grant by the ACT Government City Renewal Authority. The funds were released six months after the 2019/2020 Black Summer bushfires ravaged the environment surrounding Canberra and the greater area. Through local community consultation we learnt that many civilians were deeply concerned about broader animal welfare with particular concern for loss of habitat due to the bushfires.
In response to this, we created an artwork featuring a young girl holding/protecting a baby kangaroo whose feet are bandaged up from bushfire burns. She has an echidna holding on to her ankle and Arthropodium minus – lilies – floating around her, which we decided on because we learnt that these natives are quick to bloom from dormant seeds activated by bushfire heat. This worked well as a symbol for strength and regrowth through adversity. We placed the trio floating in cool blue water to calm the scene and hold space for the raging bushfire that glows from the girls’ belly/internal space.
The public have been incredibly positive in response to this artwork, both locally and nationwide on social media. There have been many street art bushfire tributes since the fires, and I feel proud that we created something that people have found solace and healing in, and who feel like it speaks on behalf of their care and concern for the impacted wildlife. Even three years on now, it serves as a reminder that we are all still healing from the bushfires.
