Living Icon of God’s Creative Love Sculpture- 2019

Living Icon of God’s Creative Love became a project through the process of looking for ways to commemorate the tenth anniversary of our school. The scripture was chosen and the title given to the sculpture by Jennifer Poon, Sculpture Design by Kylie Kennedy-Cupples, Sculpture by Wally Hadkowski, Ceramic Sculptures by Melissa Murphy-Vella, Technical Support by Gunther Damons and Powder Coated by A Plus Powder Coating.

We looked at design concepts which would demonstrate our oneness with our Catholic faith at Our lady of The Southern Cross. The Iconic image of Mary and Jesus our starting point, from there we looked at how to create this loving image in an abstract form.

Collaboratively our artists have worked together using natural materials such as steel and clay - and the powder coating process to construct a unique piece of contemporary art. Each of the processes involving heating and cooling and the expansion and contraction of the materials to achieve the completed work. Steel is a very strong material used architecturally and industrially and serves as a reference to the modern 21st century building of our school. The ceramic works link us to the naturalness of mother earth, the moulding of the clay symbolic of the influence we have in the learning of children in our school. The ceramic stars of the southern cross are iconic symbols only seen in the sky from Australian soil. The colours of each star representing our school colours and natural patterning to reference the Aboriginal links to our land. The raised image of the cross on the large piece is the OLSC cross which is part of our school logo. The horizontal leaf on the cross is representative of the Wyndham Community Trees poem (on display in the office) The colour and texture of the powder coating of blue tones is a further connection to our school colours.

The Symbolism of the artwork is layered. The linear curves of the structure are ribbonlike and appear as though they are moving rhythmically in the space. The larger piece bending gently down touching the smaller. Each part of the sculpture is connected and resting on the base plate, which contains the five stars of the southern cross.

The subject matter was originally conceptualised as a symbol of Mother and Child - Mary and Jesus. Mary gently bends down lovingly to her child. Through the journey of creativity and the evolution of this sculpture over the last six months we have found that the sculpture has further depth of meaning to this community in that it could also represent a child holding up a parent or loved one - giving strength to their elder. A teacher helping a student, communities caring for each other and families loving and protecting their child.

In the tenth year of our school we hope this work represents how community is a ‘Living Icon of God’s Creative Love’

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