New shire signs gateway to public art movement

The Narrabri Shire Council’s signage project is coming to life, starting with new gateway signs popping up at major access points into Narrabri Shire.

The signs will be located at main shire entrances; with two ready to be spotted, one between Gunnedah and Boggabri, and one on the Newell Highway just north of the roundabout coming into Narrabri.

They are a welcome to all people visiting or travelling through our shire.

The three steel shapes stand together to create a mountain range that is about 10 meters deep between the first shape and the last, each lined with a dash of shire council colours; purple, teal, and green.

Two more signs are also yet to be installed, coming in from Moree and one at Burren Junction.

The new steel installation has already sparked some conversation about what they may represent. Narrabri Shire Council’s manager of tourism and cultural services Scott Pollock welcomes the community’s interpretations and ideas.

“To me, these signs are basically public art. They’re a comment on what our region represents and show we’re proud of it. For me they represent the mountain range, but someone said to me that they look like boomerangs”.

“I just love that they are already creating discussion,” said Mr Pollock.

“Council is also working on a town signage project for the main entries to all our towns and villages which will include a fair bit of community consultation. Each sign which will feature an emblem that is significant to the identity of the town,” said Mr Pollock.

All the signs are being manufactured locally by GFS Engineering and all gateway signage will be the same and serve as an expression of what Narrabri represents.

“Council has also recently formed a Public Art Advisory Committee to look at the possibility of public art being rolled out across the shire. In saying that we, of course, will need to secure appropriate funding.”

With a new advisory committee in place and a public art policy to provide the framework, public consultation and the formulation of ideas are at the forefront of council’s mind.

“In council’s strategic plans it has been identified that our community wants us to enhance access to arts and cultural activities across the shire, and public art is one of the best ways to do this,” said Mr Pollock.

Public art is art in any media whose form, function, and meaning are created for the public through public consultation, prime examples are the giant silo artworks located in regional small towns.

To add to the public art budget, last year, the Port of Newcastle sponsored $24,000 to the council’s CREATE Arts Festival to go towards a piece of public art. This is in line with one of CREATE’s objective of securing a piece of public art for the community every year or so.

“There is a whole process to go with public art – the community consultation has to be huge, but we’ve got so many opportunities, think of all the high-water towers that we’ve got around town, they are basically like a silo canvas,” said Mr Pollock.

“We also, have the beautiful Namoi River, we’ve got all the towns and villages as well. It’s going to take a long time to get it happening across to the shire, but we’ve got to start somewhere.

“All ideas are starting to surface and we would love to hear what ideas the community have as well. Maybe a giant work on the intersection to Mt Kaputar, or a Yowie in the Pilliga Forest, or an inflatable artwork that we can move around.

“Who knows which will eventuate but it’s great to let the mind wander.”