LIBBY MCKINNON

Libby McKinnon has been working with the Museum for more than ten years and specialises in mosaic projects with a strong community input. The projects can vary from large constructions costing thousands of dollars to small intimate workshops with local community groups. Libby has mainly worked in the west but more recently is spreading further afield and is usually working on several projects at once. Her studio at the Living Museum attracts many visitors.

The Lake Colac Environmental and Cultural Arts project was funded from the Arts Victoria Regional Arts program and the Shire of Colac Otway. Libby's role was the establishment of the project parameters with Kaz Paton, the Shire's cultural officer leading into Colac's first public art project. This involved local artists and community and is planned to begin in May 2000.

City of Whittlesea - Riverside Park with funding from the City of Whittlesea. Libby undertook design workshops with Cathy Adams and associated artists of Urban Colours who are connected to the Kulin Nation Cultural Heritage Organisation. The final design was completed with assistance from Rob Celeste, the Living Museum's resident multi media artist. A mosaic will be fabricated from this design in the second half of 2000 for the new development at Riverside Park, South Morang.

The St. Albans Community Mosaic Project was funded by the City of Brimbank Community Support Fund and involved the establishment of parameters in which community can be involved in such a project. Community groups involved are those based at Errington Community Centre and Westvale Community Centre. Fabrication of the mosaic will take place in May & June 2000.

During 1999 Libby assisted a number of local artsworkers with the technical side of various mosaic projects involving local communities, e.g.

The Lance Reichstein Playground - Libby was asked by Lindsay Mason to again assist with technical advice and design suggestions for a series of mosaic panels that were installed at the new Lance Reichstein Playground also in Braybrook. This project was funded by the City of Maribyrnong and assisted by City of Maribyrnong Cultural Officer, Jenni Stokes.

The Newport Lakes project - Libby was asked by Newport artist, Lindy Cottrell, to assist with mosaic workshops at Newport Primary School. This will lead to the installation of mosaics inset into large boulders at Newport Lakes. Dave Waters, a sculptor attached to the Living Museum, will carve into the rocks allowing the mosaics to be inset. The installation date is November 2000.

Christ the King & Caroline Chisholm College, Braybrook - Libby was asked by Lindsay Mason, also an artist based in Newport to assist with technical aspects of mosaic workshops at Christ the King and Caroline Chisholm Colleges in Braybrook in July. These mosaics were installed in Churchill Avenue, Braybrook. This was an Artist & Environmental Designer in Schools funded project.

Macey Heights, Maribyrnong - Libby was approached by Tina Lee, an artist working on a series of mosaic panels with people with disabilities, to assist with design and technical advice. These mosaics are to be installed in the Centre during the year 2000.

Libby worked on a couple of commercial jobs during 1999. Both these jobs afforded Libby the time to pursue her own artistic interests and explore the use of traditional mosaic materials, namely glass tesserae and and smalti, e.g. a courtyard mosaic for a private house in Carlton based on 16th Century Turkish painting of plants, and a shopfront and logos of glass mosaic for Hairroom, Acland Street, St. Kilda.

During 1999 Libby also continued her participation as a member of the City of Maribyrnong Public Art Advisory Panel and was involved in the selection of artists for a major public art project which is taking place as a part of the new residential development at Saltwater Crossing, in the vicinity of the Footscray Community Arts Centre on the banks of the Maribyrnong River.

Libby also was invited to join the committee of Ethnic Women West which is based at the Inner Western Migrant Resource Centre, in Footscray as an artist designer. She has so far assisted with a logo design for EWW and contributed to their monthly meetings when appropriate.

MERRYN HANSFORD

Merryn has worked with Libby on a variety of projects over the last three years. During 1999 Merryn felt confident enough to take on a private commission in glass mosaics for a kitchen in Hoppers Crossing. Merryn can be seen (left) making a red capped plover in mosaic for 'The Boardwalk'.