Aboriginal Art & Storytelling is the first major public art project to be presented on the 36km Northern Beaches Coast Walk.
Working with design group Urban Art Projects (UAP) and independent curator Tess Allas, Aboriginal artist Frances Belle Parker, was selected to develop artworks for multiple sites along the Coast Walk. Frances’ winning concept designs celebrate Aboriginal stories of whale migration and the coast as a gathering spot and important life source of food such as oysters. Frances Belle Parker is a proud Yaegl woman, painter and artist from Maclean, NSW. She came to prominence by winning the prestigious Blake Prize in 2000, making her the youngest ever winner and the first Aboriginal recipient in the prize’s history.
The Northern Beaches Coast walk is a connected trail of walking paths that gives the public access to some to the most beautiful coastal views in the world. Parker’s sculptures now adorn three sites along the trail and her beautiful series responds to Country and coast underneath the walking trail. There are three artworks including; Oyster Shells – Middens, 2022 at Narrabeen Lagoon; Whale Songs, 2022 at South Avalon and Whale Songs, 2022 at Long Reef.
Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan said: “The Aboriginal Art & Storytelling project aims to acknowledge, respect and share, the stories of the Northern Beaches Aboriginal people through a series of public artworks along the Coast Walk. “We are proud to have initiated this public art project which we know will enhance the beauty of the Coast Walk by offering moments of contemplation to users of this terrific walking trail. Frances Belle Parker’s works are powerful reminders of pre-contact and continuing connection to Country.”
Artist Frances Belle Parker said: “This is an amazing opportunity to be able to create public artwork that tells a deeper part of the coastline’s story. Through engagement with the Northern Beaches Aboriginal community, I hope we can tell stories that are relevant, as well as convey the underlying messages of the country and the people who walked this land before us.”
As part of her community engagement process, Frances Belle Parker met with various members of the local Aboriginal community to present her winning art concept design; to identify significant and relevant sites for the artworks and to share stories and memories about places and themes of the artworks. Her artworks now speak to the history of the area and the continuing culture of Aboriginal people on the Northern Beaches Artworks were installed in late July 2022 and this project was jointly funded by Council and the Office for Responsible Gambling / Clubs NSW.
