Mackay’s Indigenous past celebrated in art for the future

Mayor of Mackay Regional Council, Cr Col Meng has issued a warm invitation for the local community to attend the official launch of the Bluewater Trail Public Art by prominent indigenous artist, Fiona Foley.

The launch is set to take place this Friday, August 12 from 3.30pm at Bluewater Quay, River Street.

Cr Meng said the six works commissioned by Mackay Regional Council have been acknowledged by industry professionals as “one of the most significant public art developments in Australia”.

“We’re very lucky to have such a culturally significant series of works here in our community and we’re also pleased that Fiona will be in attendance for the launch,” he said.

“Fiona worked with local and state historical authorities and engaged with Mackay Aboriginal and South Sea Islander communities in order to reflect a concise representation of Mackay’s past,”

“It’s important as a community to know where we’ve come from in order to move forward.”

Foley has exhibited extensively nationally and her works appear in the collections of the National Gallery of Australia, the National Museum of Australia, the Queensland Art Gallery and the State Library of Queensland and public artworks at Melbourne Town Hall, Brisbane Magistrates Court, the State Library of Queensland and Museum of Sydney.

The launch will also be attended by about 150 delegates of the Museum and Gallery Services State Conference being held at Mackay Entertainment and Convention centre from tomorrow (Thursday, August 11).

For more information or to RSVP to the official launch, please contact Artspace Mackay on 4961 9785.

Alternatively, to check out the artwork in your own time, Artspace Mackay has an informative Bluewater Trail Public Art map available for collection from the gallery.

Contact: Mackay Regional Council

Phone: 1300 MACKAY (622 529)