A sculpture celebrating people who have a lived experience with disability has moved from its temporary home at the Geelong Waterfront to Austin Park in Lara.
Each letter in the sculpture weighs around four tonnes, requiring a crane to complete the move recently.
City of Greater Geelong volunteering and disability portfolio chair Anthony Aitken said the sculpture would remain in Lara until later this year.
“This work was designed to be relocated around the City of Greater Geelong to allow for a greater connection with our whole community and to increase awareness around the concepts it conveys,” Cr Aitken said.
“It is an important piece of public art that celebrates people who live with a disability and reminds us that everyone’s voice is valued.”
The sculpture was funded by the state government through the Community Support Fund and delivered in partnership with VALiD (Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with Disabilities) and Geelong-based ArtGusto.
Creative communities and culture portfolio deputy chair Jim Mason and Lara MP John Eren joined artist Mark Cuthbertson is celebrating the arrival of the artwork in Lara last week.
The City of Greater Geelong commissioned Mr Cuthbertson, with artist-collaborators Robert Croft, Hannah Wilkinson, Christian Den Besten and George Macaronis, to develop the public art sculpture.
The sculpture was developed based on more than 85 contributions from the local community through a series of artist-led workshops.
Drawing reference from powerful political and pop culture statements such as the 1968 Memphis black sanitation workers slogan ‘I am a man’, and Helen Reddy’s 1971 anthem ‘I Am Woman’, the work celebrates the empowerment of diversity in our society.
Cr Mason said he hoped the sculpture would be embraced by the Lara community.
“So many people across our community contributed their ideas to the development of this work so we’re proud it’s making its way around the municipality,” Cr Mason said.
“It is a shining example of the wide range of creative talent in our inclusive city, where everyone has a rightful and participatory place.”
The sculpture had been in place in front of the Carousel at the Waterfront since September.
