Carol McCormack
Australian landscape paintings

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Q150 TILES

 

One of Queensland's 150th birthday celebration projects saw every

council in the state contribute two Queensland-shaped tiles to create a

mosaic mural at Brisbane's RNA showgrounds.  One tile was to

represent the past of the region, and the other the future.

 

I was proud  to be invited to represent Western Downs Regional Council.

 

more about the Q150 tiles project at

http://mosaics.q150.qld.gov.au/

 

The finished mural

 

 

 

THE TILES

1. The past

'Western Downs artist Carol McCormack created the artwork to reflect significant elements of the area’s history. The white concentric circles symbolise Indigenous history, while in the centre are two simple tools, the axe and the hammer, used by early white settlers to commence the infrastructure of their society. Industry is represented by references to sheep, cattle, grain timber and oil. The people grouped together, women formed clubs and church groups, the men worked in teams. There are family groups and schools are built for the children. Communications are simple, roads, railways, and the party-line telephone. Nature played an important part in the areas history in both positive and negative ways. Brigalow and prickly pear were hard to eradicate and threatened successful agriculture. Strong straight eucalypts have been important sources of timber and some have become so rare they are now protected.'

 

 

2. The future

'Western Downs artist Carol McCormack created the art to reflect her vision for the region’s present and future. The concentric circles are created out of silver wire and durable glitter paint and represent communication via the worldwide web bringing the world to the local area. Tourism is a big feature – the world comes to Western Downs doorstep to see the way locals live. Water is now recognised as a precious priority and despite climate change, conservation means locals have more of it. In the future land clearing has stopped and revegetation is occurring. The area is an important source of fuel, both agricultural and fossil, and railways have been re-built to cater for this industry to save wear and tear on the fragile roads. Increasingly the area is becoming a more multicultural society. Colours are cooler to reflect that there is more vegetation and more available water.'

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© Carol McCormack 2010
last update 20 03 2010