Located on the lands of Wiradjuri People, the NSW Government is investing $250 million in the Griffith Base Hospital redevelopment, which will provide Griffith and the surrounding communities with state-of-the art health facilities and enhanced health services closer to home.
Due for completion in 2025, the new, purpose-built three story Clinical Services Building has been designed to support contemporary models of care and will house all major health services at the hospital under one roof.
The Cad Factory and Murrumbidgee Local Health District invited artists to submit Expression of Interests to develop artworks for identified locations within the Griffith Base Hospital. The selected artists will create dynamic visual experiences and aim to create a welcoming, culturally safe health service for all who work and seek care at the Hospital.
About the Artwork Commissions
Community Courtyard
The Community Courtyard, with its central shape as the gugaa (goanna), has been designed in consultation with various members of the Aboriginal community including the Land Council and Aboriginal Health Workers. It celebrates the totem of the Wiradjuri Nation.
This courtyard will be accessible via a community lounge/ kitchen area to provide space for various community and cultural needs. The large glass windows that lead from the kitchen to the courtyard have been identified as a location for an artwork in order to give privacy and provide a welcoming environment.
This artwork commission is for a local First Nations artist/s, in collaboration with the Griffith Aboriginal Working Party. The commission will create an artwork to provide privacy, beauty and cultural sharing on the courtyard window via enviro-graphics, sandblasting, metal screen or other appropriate methods.
Yarning Circle
The Yarning Circle is a place for people to gather, talk and reflect. Outdoor sound speakers will be installed in a courtyard that will share cultural stories from the Griffith Aunty Jeans group.
The sound will appear to be coming from the surface material of the yarning circle itself, rather than from identifiable speakers. This installation method enhances the idea of culture and story and life itself being a part of the land, the materiality of place.
Pre-forecourt Sculpture
The curatorial vision has a commitment to including and celebrating all people that make up the Griffith and surrounding communities.
This commission is for an artist to propose an artwork and engagement strategy to collaborate with local school groups or vulnerable youth that supports their wellbeing, such as partnering with the Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG), the Clontarf Foundation or Griffith Multicultural Council.
Within this commission we want to connect young people to the hospital through direct involvement in making new work, to offer students project-based learning opportunities that have real world outcomes, to build young people up and give them a sense of community belonging and pride through working on public artworks.
This commission is to create 3-dimensional artwork/s within the zig-zag walkway area.
Archaeological Display
In the initial stages of the Griffith Hospital Redevelopment, over 3,000 cultural objects were discovered. The custodianship of these artifacts lies with Griffith Local Aboriginal Land Council. A video will be produced to share the significance of these objects.
Emergency Department
The Emergency Department (ED) has been identified as a location for two artworks:
1. Inside the ED air lock
An artwork that celebrates Griffith's multicultural diversity and offers a welcome to community. The final artwork will be created in or converted to a digital format and applied via an enviro-graphic film.
2. Outside the ED at the Ambulance Entrance Bay
A painted mural with a First Nations theme, that includes the Murrumbidgee Local Health District's acknowledgement of Country.
This commission is for a lead artist to work in consultation with the Griffith Multicultural Council, Aboriginal Working Group and the broader community to collect and create imagery of cultural significance that speaks to the diversity of cultures in Griffith.
The Griffith Multicultural Council are excited to contribute to the making of this artwork by creating community connections to explore images that hold deep significance for the community.
Artists
Carolyn Williams
Carolyn Williams is a proud Wiradjuri
and Ngiyampaa woman based in
Griffith, NSW. Carolyn is passionate about culture, mob, education, Aboriginal artwork and story sharing. Carolyn's artwork incorporates traditional earth colours with contemporary colours using symbols and images to represent her stories.
Carla Gottgens
Carla is an active public artist creating commissioned works for councils and exhibitions across Australia. Her professional work spans photography, painting, sculpture and multi-media installations. She has created sculptures for City of Casey, Adelaide Airport, Strand Ephemera Townsville and Lorne Sculpture Biennale. Gottgen’s multi-disciplinary practice includes the delivery of workshops for students and adults. Gottgens has completed numerous murals for councils, including Maribyrnong, Moreland, Monash and Maroondah.
Aunty Jeans Group
The Aunty Jeans program is a community-focused program to support Aboriginal people with/or at risk of chronic illness. The program is run by Murrumbidgee Local Health District.
This project is supported by Health Infrastructure NSW and the Murrumbidgee Local Health District.