Kids contribute creativity to Randwick health precinct artwork

Titled Wish Upon a Star, the artwork is being created by Aboriginal artists Dennis Golding and Carmen Glynn-Braun of The Re-Right Collective.

The work will feature two components: a mural on the entrance ceiling representing the night sky, and star shell-shaped sculptures on the supporting columns, co-created with local children.

"The concept firstly celebrates the Bidjigal women's practice of shell artwork, but we wanted to engage with local youth from the area and young people who have ancestral ties to this country and the Bidjigal women," said Dennis.

"It has cultural significance as well as giving you an automatic feeling of just feeling better and having space away from things like dealing with illness," added Carmen.

The duo, who formed their artistic collective after meeting at university, began the co-creation process in April with a series of workshops at the Sydney Children’s Hospital School and La Perouse Public School.

Students of varied ages were given starry shell images and asked to create a clay sculpture, using locally collected items like shells to shape and decorate their piece. Their work will be turned into moulds that undergo bisque firing and gold glazing.

An essential part of the workshops was connecting the young artists with Dharawal elder and Aboriginal Health worker Aunty Lola Ryan, who provided cultural guidance.

"You can get the starry shells from the ocean and along the beach, and it's also a connection to the stars in the sky at night," Aunty Lola said.

"There's a connection to our people because stars guided them in the nighttime to get them through the bush," she explained.

"It will just be amazing to see something that was made by our hands. The children get to grow up with the artwork as well, so in 50 years' time, they will be able to come back and walk past the street where they can see their hand marking in the shells," said Dennis.