MilBi Magic
Milbi Magic Mosaics
Crawford Park at Archies Beach
Woongarra Scenic Drive, Bargara
Overlooking our pristine coastline, you’ll find one of the quirkiest, yet most spectacular amenities block you’ve ever laid your eyes on. Connecting the passionate people who call our region home, our incredibly diverse eco-system, and rich Indigenous culture, the blocks’ colourful walls are filled with mosaics created by those in our community and beyond.
Inspired by our breathtaking region, local artist and Project Facilitator Paul Perry, along with over 200 people from across the community, Australia and overseas, spent a whopping 6,200 hours and 100,000 tiles creating this incredible artwork.
So, what are you waiting for? Come see it for yourself!
This project is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and the Gambling Community Benefits Scheme, by Bundaberg Regional Council through the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF), by the Bargara Progress Association Inc, by the Australian Government through Regional Arts Australia and Flying Arts Inc. and by C and L Flemming. RADF is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Bundaberg Regional Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland. Image copyright: Sabrina Lauriston Photography & Bundaberg Today.
Welcome Wall
Telling the powerful stories of our culture and fond memories of locals, the Welcome Wall reflects our region through a collection of mosaic artworks. Showing the connectedness between the stories of seven diverse groups, a ribbon weaves itself through the mosaics tying the work together from our beautiful sunrises to our iconic sunsets and connecting to First Nations people who have lived in the area for millennia.
The Welcome Wall was designed by Jeremy Kiraly based on the original concept and incorporates artwork by Nicole Wone, Stacie Saltner and Dylan Sarra. It also involved teachers and students from Kepnock State High School, St Luke's Anglican College and Bundaberg Christian College, representatives from Gidarjil Development Corporation and the South Sea Islander community, and an army of volunteers under the guidance of Paul Perry.
Discover the stories of each piece of art below!
Kepnock High School
The chosen design was created by Sapphire Hafemeister in our Year 12 Visual Arts in Practice class. She worked on a design that explored walking down to Kelly’s Beach from memory. Sapphire could clearly remember the feel of the rock and the sand under her feet, the ocean breeze through her hair and the beautiful sunsets and sunrises that occur over the ocean. From this Sapphire drew up a very organic design that incorporated the beauty of our local beaches and was inspired by the movement, colour and texture of nature.
Participants: Jess O'Neill with help from Nita Rosher (Teacher), Students: Ashlee Whitley, Emily Lines, Erica Wilkinson, Kaci Cauchi, Kyle Skerke, Maddison Rogers, Sapphire Hefemeister, Zoh Ashley-Ross
night sky dreaming
This panel is based on a painting by Stacie Saltner. This is her story of the painting:
The painting depicts the journey of the Whale and the Manta Ray through the dreaming. The whale is the keeper of all Earth’s sacred secrets and the Manta Ray is the armour of two faces - one public and one personal. It is my journey of research into my Indigenous Culture, Indigenous Astrology and the record keeping of my research. It is a painting of reflection of how dreaming is the spirit of our ancestors and their making of the night sky – universe first and then how they ascended to form our country in which we live. This story depicts the making of the sea.
The mosaic cartoon was created by Zara Johnson inspired by the painting re-interpreted to fit the shape and size of the allocated panel.
The words in the design are Belbendimin wulgun djau meaning Caring for our Sea Country in the Taribelang language.
Participants: Beckey Spruce, Branyan Apel, Chris Morphett, Cristel Simmonds, Dorothy Eldridge, Felix Apel, Irene Dide, Jan Cooper, Kathryn Apel, Kerry Bettios, Kristina Delahunty, Nicole Bonney, Patricia Martin, Paul Perry, Tom Holden and Zara Johnson
South Sea Islanders
The imagery acknowledges the South Sea Islander history of our region.
South Sea Islander people were brought to coastal Queensland to act as ‘indentured labour’ (as it was called) to the sugar industry. This practice is what we know today as Blackbirding. The dominant coastal pandanas palm shades the sea shore, beach and lagoon waters. Baby turtle hatchlings scamper across the sand towards the water. In the sky, almost dreamlike, are a few frangipani flowers reminding us of these workers’ distant island homes from which they were removed as part of the practice of trading in people (an unacknowledged form of slavery). Not too far away are the sugarcane fields surrounded by rock walls which have also been referred to as ‘Kanaka Walls’ based on the word historically used to refer to South Sea Islander workers. Small white crosses acknowledge the people who were taken from their homes and who died and who are buried in this country. These crosses reflect the price that was paid by South Sea Islander workers and reflects the strong connection to this place that South Sea Islander people have had and continue to have today. The community continues to be a very strong and proud presence in the Bundaberg Region.
milbi feature
The main Welcome wall panel featuring a large loggerhead turtle, frolicking dolphins and fish based on designs by Jeremy Kiraly and Nicole Wone was created by Paul Perry in his studio as a COVID-19 lockdown activity during March and April 2020.
In a sense the restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and a cancelled Tahitian cruise gave me the opportunity, momentum and uninterrupted time to focus on this creative mosaic work. [Paul Perry]
St Luke's Anglican college
The heart of Bundabergian beach culture meets the intricacies of mosaic in this piece titled ‘From Above’ (2020).
Designed to mirror the direction of the Milbi Magic project and artist in residence Paul Perry, this piece outlines an unseen perspective of the iconic Kelly’s Beach whilst also portraying a message that stretches far beyond colourful tesserae and well thought out patterns that lay before the eyes of the public. Spanning 1.25 x 2.4 metres at its largest, ‘From Above’ is a mosaic piece situated on the Woongarra Scenic Drive side of the Archie’s Beach amenities block. The varying tones of the Coral Sea fade into the depths of Moneys Creek where turquoise accents are enclosed by the heavy, black volcanic rocks, adding a stark contrast to the otherwise vibrant mosaic. Located above Moneys Creek are the golden yellow sand dunes, bearing a number of vibrantly coloured umbrella shades representing the engagement of the community. Intricate floral designs hug both sides of the Miller Street as it winds its way around this magnificent coastline. Tropical pink flowers protrude from the patterned greenery on the land side of the road to create interest among the viewers and highlight the flowering plants bordering the Bargara Golf Course. Whilst on the sea side, rooftops break up the extensive greenery. A prominent element of the mosaic is the three white seagulls that are flying towards the shoreline. Whilst the white of these creatures adds an element of contrast against the dark blue of the ocean, the seagulls guide the viewer's eyes towards the main feature of the panel - Kelly’s Beach itself. ...‘From Above’ utilises a unique aerial perspective of the landscape as one of its features in displaying to the audience the importance Kelly’s Beach holds in the connection to community.
Participants: Amy Fallon (Teacher), Students: Ava Ryan, Brooke Mahoney, Cyarah Delamare, Darcy Tanzer, Ella Jenkins, Fatima Baghdadi, Gayle Bulado, Imogen Kirk, Isabella Gil, Jessica Hickey, Kalana Fraser, Keira Bosch, Lara Kirk, Lily Olse
Bundaberg Christian College
The purpose of this design is to communicate the effects of coral bleaching on the environment and other environmental issues; the concept of life and death. This design expresses that despite the mortality we face in our lives Isaiah 40:8 says that though the grass may wither and the flowers fade, God and His Word will stand constant through it all. His grace and love are never-ending.
Participants: Telea Erkoceviq (Teacher), Students: Abby Jones, Chelsea Morgan, Dana Downey, Ebony Perry, Elizabeth Edwards, Elke Swadling, Georgie Mellross, Indianna Woolley, Jesse Raffin, Keeley Dunn, Laura Schmeide, Logan Urquhart, Mackenna Otto, Melanie Wills, Trinity Beasley, Tristan Ashley and Tyra Bing
saltwater learning
This panel is based on a painting by Dylan Sarra and used with his permission. Dylan is a Taribelang/Gooreng Gooreng man from the Bundaberg region and is currently living and studying in Brisbane in the field of contemporary Indigenous art.
This was Dylan’s first painting when he decided to make art a full time occupation. It includes imagery of the Moneys Creek lagoon at sunset where Dylan spent his time swimming as a child, within a hand print identified as a signature and surrounded by dot circles representing the water and generations of people who have occupied this country for millennia.
The main feature on this panel was created by Paul Perry. The surrounding ‘dots’ were made by our loyal mosaicing volunteers. The Jellyfish was made by the girls from the Girls Academy at Bundaberg State High School based on a design from Nicole Wone.
Here is Dylan’s story of the painting:
SALTWATER LEARNING
In traditional Indigenous Australia, children were taught in the same way as we are today... by example. They studied patterns and cycles within the environment and followed the lore and traditions handed down to them by the older ones.
The knowledge they possessed was crucial to their survival. I think in today’s world we streamline our education and condition our children to benefit others and not themselves. But in my eyes not all children are the same. They all learn in their own way and grasp concepts when they are ready. As adults if we are patient and kind and teach children the fundamentals of caring for themselves and others, by setting an example we are reaching their hearts and training children to leave their unique mark in the world.
This mark is represented by the hand you see in the picture. Traditionally this meant signature. So what makes your signature unique that you have shared with the little eyes watching you?
Fish Tails WALL
With over 220 individual handmade mosaic fish and marine wildlife sent in from around the world, the Fish Tales wall is truly awe-inspiring. From colourful reef fish to inquisitive dolphins and even a few mysterious creatures found in the depths of the ocean, uncovering the stories behind these mosaics is just the start of your underwater adventure in our backyard.
Working with Project Facilitator Paul Perry, the fish were curated by local artist Adrienne Williams onto an underwater reef design by Julie Hylands.
Behind-The-Scenes
Over the last two years, Project Facilitator Paul Perry has lead the design and creation of the incredible MilBi Magic Mosaics. Resulting in a 43 square metre mosaic public art installation on the amenities block at Archie’s Beach Bargara, take a look below for Paul’s journey from the original concept development to the exciting installation. Working day-in and day-out, holding many workshops in his garage with dedicated volunteers, read about Paul’s mosaic journey from the viewpoint of the garage, written by Faye Perry.
Visit the Milbi Magic Mosaics Gallery.
