The Community workshop component of the Symbiogenisis Project with the support of Nillumbik Shire created a rare opportunity for 14 students from Eltham College and the artist to collaborate on a 12 meter public mural on the ecology of Eltham.
The over several day long sessions at Edendale Farm Community Environment Centre, the participating young people spent time in the neighboring park lands along the Yarra River, amercing themselves in the natural system of the region. They were guided in the taking field notes, specimen samples and observational sketches, and discussed the ecology of the region, the key species and the human interactions with the system.
While discussing the interconnectedness of the ecology, the students were instructed in the traditions of botanical art and scientific illustration creating watercolour and pencil works which were to be used as the main subjects of the mural.
Over several more sessions, both the young people and the artist collaborated on the multi-paneled mural, producing an engaging and thought provoking work which will be installed on Main Road Eltham on the central post office wall.
This work was made possible though the support of Nillumbik Shire and the Arts and Culture team and Edendale Farm Community Environment Centre.