Seven local and Noongar artists with diverse backgrounds, experience and styles have been selected to create public art as part of the METRONET New Bayswater Station Project.
Over the coming months, the artists will engage with residents, schools and community groups through workshops, interviews and creative sessions to capture stories, local connections and a collective love of all things ‘Baysie’.
Three workshops will kick-start the public engagement and the Bayswater community is invited to participate.
‘Where’s Wally’ style illustrations, painted murals, functional sculptures and poetry will make the New Bayswater Station and surrounding area a cultural hub for Perth’s north-eastern suburbs.
A poetry workshop with Dr Nandi Chinna will include deep listening, slow walking, and facilitating creative writing that expresses individual stories, memories and hopes for the future of Bayswater.
Nathanael Whale will interview community members on 13 August to gain local insight into the heritage of the station and include this in his commemorative artwork.
Joanna Brown will discuss and draw local and native plants in a community workshop on 30 July to help create a collaged botanical artwork.
Bayswater Primary School students will work with artist Emily Jackson on local flora and fauna murals for the new Leake Street pedestrian underpass.
And for high school-aged students, Andrew Frazer will host two typography workshops set for September.
An artist talk with celebrated WA artists Peter and Miranda Farmer, Jason Hirst and Jade Dolman will be held where attendees can hear about the creative concepts and join a discussion to inform the final works for the new station.
Join the METRONET New Bayswater Station Community Group on Facebook for upcoming engagement opportunities with other artists.
About the artists and their works
Nathanael Whale – the illustrator’s artwork will feature on station platform dividing walls to represent the two sides of Bayswater – the town centre and the river.
Dr Nandi Chinna - the local writer will facilitate community writing workshops to create a written piece to feature in the landscaping paving ‘ribbon’ surrounding the station, complemented by imagery created by artist Jade Dolman.
Jade Dolman – the local Noongar artist will bring together the history and culture of Bayswater through illustrative works and dual languages, to be integrated in various locations in and around the station.
Peter Farmer – with Miranda Farmer and Jason Hirst, the award-winning and internationally renowned Noongar artist will create two functional sculptures for the station forecourt outside the main entrance.
Andrew Frazer – the South West artist will use his typography mural to bring together the Noongar place name ‘Biraliny’ in a large, bright typography at the station, with input from Noongar artist Jade Dolman.
Emily Jackson – Emily’s rich and layered designs and murals of local flora and fauna will transform the walls and ceilings of the Leake Street underpass.
Joanna Brown – the botanical imagery muralist’s hand-drawn native flora-based artworks will add a splash of colour and interest to noise walls surrounding the station.
The New Bayswater Station Project will provide a new level of public transport service to Perth’s north-eastern suburbs, connecting with the Midland Line, Forrestfield-Airport Link and Morley-Ellenbrook Line.
The METRONET Public Art Strategy creates a distinctive identity for station and transport infrastructure, delivering enjoyable environments for local communities and creating opportunities for emerging and established local artists.