Women Weave Colour, a collaboration of local artists Donna Rankin, Lara Went, Shannon Crees and Nicole Bramble was officially opened to the local community on Friday 13 November 2020.
Image supplied courtesy of Donna Rankin
The 83-metre-long mural was commissioned by Stockland Forster in July 2020 to enhance the environment, whilst promoting community pride and a sense of belonging, and creating a stronger connection to community cultural life.
Located behind Hungry Jacks Forster, the project saw 13 submissions from community artists – both individually and as part of a collaboration.
After a thoughtful selection process, a collaborative submission from local artists Lara Went, Donna Rankin, Shannon Crees and Nicole Bramble were selected.
Described as a tapestry of vibrant colour, the mural incorporates a nod to the local Worimi Community and represents the iconic beauty, people, places and history found in our local area.
Work on the mural began in October 2020 and was gifted to the local community on Friday, 13 November 2020 in celebration of NAIDOC Week with an official ribbon cutting ceremony and Welcome to Country performed by local contemporary Worimi Artisit, Lara Went.
Pictured from left to right: Councillor Troy Fowler, Donna Rankin. Alex Walichnowski, Centre Manager Stockland Forster; Lara Went; Shannon Crees and Nicole Bramble
The unveiling was attended by Councillor Troy Fowler and Mid Coast Council’s Manager for Growth, Economic Development and Tourism Deb Tuckerman, artists Lara Went, Shannon Crees, Donna Rankin and Nicole Bramble.
Pictured left to right: Lara Went; Donna Rankin; Shannon Crees and Nicole Bramble
About the artists
Lara Went
Lara Went is a contemporary Aboriginal artist living in Worimi country, Forster, NSW. After the birth of her daughter back in 2014 she decided that she wanted to find something that she could pursue as a career from home. Her passion for art and in particular Aboriginal art became her inspiration and Yukul Art was born in August 2015.
Inspiration is drawn from her natural world around her, the ocean, her children and her culture. Each artwork tells a story, whether it is a life lesson or in the case of a custom work, a personal and unique story.
Donna Rankin
Donna is an accomplished portrait artist local to the Mid North Coast, NSW.
A mother, artist and founder of Heart to Heart Australia, Donna has a passion for sharing the magic of art and creativity, its healing properties and the positive effect it can have on mental health.
Drawn to painting people in the landscape, Donna has had her work exhibited at prestigious exhibitions including the Portia Geach Memorial Art Prize, the Blake Religious Art Prize, the Shirley Hannon National Art Prize and the Mosman Art Prize.
Donna was recently featured on the ABC documentary series “Womens Work”, celebrating the lives of extraordinary women doing extraordinary things in their communities.
Shannon Crees
An accomplished international artist, Shannon creates works on canvas and paints large scale murals both locally and internationally.
She was the only Australian artist included in the high profile line up of ‘the best graffiti artists in the world’ at ‘Banksy’s Cans Festival 2’ in London. Painted murals for Sheffield’s international mural festival in Tasmania and Outpost: ‘the southern hemispheres’ biggest Street art festival’ on Cocatoo Island. Was the winner of Leichhardt councils’ 'Wall to Wall' competition, with an 80 square meter mural.
Her artworks have been displayed in the MCA for Australian Fashion week and in Sydney's town Hall. She has been a finalist in the Portia Geach, Salon des Refusés and Waringah art prizes.
Her artworks on canvas are held in private collections around the world.
Nicole Bramble
Local to Pacific Palms. NSW Nicole Bramble is a modernist impressionist artist with a passion for depicting the native landcapes of the Mid North Coast in her illustrations.
A Newcastle University graduate in Bachelor of Education in Art, Nicole is inspired by creativity for mental health and wellbeing and has enjoyed sharing her passion with Forster community with Women Weave Colour.
Nicole sells a range of prints locally depicting the stories of coastal life and memories of growing up in the area. This is Nicole Brambles first large scale mural.
