Local First Nations emerging artist Nicole Gulwell has added another community mural to her impressive portfolio.
Nineteen year old Nicole is a descendant of Dharug and Kamilaroi peoples, and a member of the Pumicestone Indigenous Education and Employment Council (PIEEC). She is also a valued volunteer on the Bribie Island Community Art Society’s Next Generation Art Prize committee.
Having seen her solo work for Bribie Island State School and Bribie Kindergarten, as well as her collaborative projects at the Birali Steiner School Beachmere and Bribie Arts Centre, BICAS Board member and Next Gen coordinator Sarah Cave invited Nicole to design a mural for the Arts Centre’s Cafe 191 courtyard wall.
Sunlight reflecting off the expansive white wall was a significant glare issue for cafe patrons; it was also a large blank canvas begging for an artwork to enhance the courtyard space and make the statement: “This is an Arts Centre”.
Nicole offered six designs incorporating the native flora and bird-life specific to the Centre surrounds in consultation with PIEEC ELDERS. The Selection Committee was unanimous in the choice of the final design.
Time was of the essence. The summer heat and storm season was approaching, and Nicole had only a small window of opportunity before returning to her 3rd year Bachelor of Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art at Griffith University.
So Sarah and fellow Board member Fiona Boxall set about securing a $5000 Quick Response grant made possible by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts fund provided through Regional Arts Australia and administered in Queensland by Flying Arts Alliance.
Sunshine Mitre 10 Bribie Island provided in-kind support, offering a discount on the purchase of the paint. Fiona further promoted the project to Flexihire Caboolture who supplied a scissorlift free of charge for the duration of the project.
Nicole’s assistant artist throughout this project, Trinity Cory, is also a young emerging local artist who previously worked on the “Save the Bees” mural at the front of Bribie Arts Centre. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Creative Arts at JMC Academy, Brisbane. The pair completed the mural on December 12th to the delight of cafe patrons, Arts Centre members, staff, volunteers and visitors.
You can view this remarkable artwork Tuesday to Saturday 9am – 4pm, Sundays 9am – 1pm.