The Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology has been awarded funding from the Queensland Government from the Queensland Arts Showcase Program.
The latest round of the Queensland Arts Showcase Program (QASP) is supporting projects across the spectrum of art forms, from new music, musical theatre, literature and visual arts, including the creation and sharing of works by First Nations artists and arts workers.
The project is the development, installation and presentation of a new sculptural artwork designed by First Nations Kabi Kabi artist, Lyndon Davis, as an Acknowledgement of Country at the entrance to the Abbey Museum’s new Art Gallery and Café extension. The Abbey Museum has been granted funding towards building this extension under the Queensland Government’s Regional Tourism Recovery Program.
The dedicated space for the public art sculpture, at this entrance, is approximately 3.5 metres long by one metre wide by 3 metres tall.
Lyndon Davis says: ‘My art proposal is to provide an Acknowledgement to Country to honour the ancient cultural history of the land on which the Abbey Museum is situated and Kabi Kabi people’s custodianship over thousands of years.’
Long term public art consultant, Dr John Waldron, Blue Sky View, will support Lyndon Davis to realise his design ideas for the public art work through a collaboration with an experienced public artist / fabricator Russell Anderson. Nadia Arrighi will work with Lyndon and sound artist Dr Leah Barclay to integrate Lyndon’s storytelling into the sculpture.
The resulting multi-layered high quality First Nations public art sculptural piece will communicate a striking and significant Acknowledgment of Country scheduled for completion by the end of 2024 to complement the launch of the opening exhibition in the gallery and final café fit out.
Lyndon Davis is a Traditional Custodian of the Kabi Kabi (Gubbi Gubbi) people and an internationally acclaimed artist, cultural educator and performer. Born and raised on the Sunshine Coast, Lyndon’ s art represents his deep connection to Country and depicts stories of landscapes, flora and fauna. Lyndon’s exceptional and unique First Nations artwork embodies his learnings about the artistic styles and cultural artefacts of Kabi Kabi Country.
This project is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
The artist commission fees for Lyndon Davis is supported by The Regional Arts Development Fund, a partnership between the Queensland Government and Moreton Bay Regional Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.
The Abbey Museum also acknowledges the Abbey Museum Friends and private Philanthropy contributions to support this project.