Local students create new mural in Ashmont

Students from Ashmont Public School embraced their inner artist this week as part of Council’s Public Art Plan’s Neighbourhood Engagement initiative to bring vibrancy to suburban areas in Wagga Wagga.

The project involved the development of a mural at Jack Mission Oval, near the Ashmont Public School, which features designs created by students in collaboration with artists Amanda Newman and Natalie L Simmons.

Council’s Cultural Officer Lauren Reynolds says the Public Art Plan identified four suburbs in our city to focus on for this program.

“The Neighbourhood Engagement project is about improving local neighbourhoods in Mount Austin, Ashmont, Tolland and Kooringal,” Ms Reynolds said.

“We have already completed an earlier project in Mount Austin in 2023 and now it’s Ashmont’s turn.

“By engaging directly with the Ashmont Public School students and community, this fosters a sense of ownership and pride in the artwork, as well as giving this school community a chance to contribute to the creation of the artwork.”

Artists Natalie L Simmons and Amanda Newman worked with students and teachers from Ashmont Public School, along with local Elder Aunty Gail Manderson, in a series of workshops and feedback sessions to create a mural design that reflected their values and ideas.

Amanda Newman highlighted the importance of community engagement, public art, and storytelling in the project.

“Natalie and I put our brains together to work on this project – myself as the painter and Natalie as the conceptual artist,” Amanda said.

“The central concept of the design is a serpent shedding its skin to symbolise rebirth into a safe place, with additional elements inspired by local Aboriginal stories contributing to the project.

“The students who contributed to the initial concept were able to take part in the painting of the mural, and the mural will include a trail of footprints from the students walking alongside goanna tracks, symbolising their journeys on country.”

The mural design also includes a portrait of Aunty Louise Niki, who was the Aboriginal Education Officer at Ashmont Public School for more than 20 years.

The decision to include the portrait was a result of consultation with the school and family of Aunty Louise Niki.

Natalie L Simmons expressed that as an Indigenous artist, she felt a personal connection to the project’s theme, which centred on ‘Yindyamarra’.

“Amanda and I originally submitted an expression of interest to be involved in this project because we liked how it was focused on working with the community,” Natalie said.

“And being an Indigenous artist myself, the theme of ‘Yindyamarra’ is something I’m personally connected to.”

Both artists said the focus of the workshops was exploring the meaning of ‘Yindyamarra’ with the students, with the design aiming to reflect the community’s connection to country.

“Through doing the workshops, we explored what ‘Yindyamarra’ means to the students, being the Wiradyuri concept of respect, being gentle and polite, to honour and do slowly,” Natalie said.

“We also completed exercises on drawing symbols and explored how to show a story through drawings and images.”

Everyone can view the public mural at Jack Mission Oval situated on the amenities block, located next to the playground on the corner of Lae Avenue and Malta Crescent.