It Takes a Town artwork installed at Healesville

A group of budding Healesville artists has helped create two large-scale temporary sticker artworks installed on the side of the Memo Hall and behind fruit and vegetable shop Toscano’s Varra Valley.

The young artists aged 13-18 years co-designed the artworks named Surrealesville and Kids these days with professional artist Gulsen Ozer and contributing artist Andrea Innocent.

The It Takes a Town project is a youth and community development project initiated by the Healesville and District Service Provider Network (HDSPN) funded by Council.

The project aims to mobilise broad community support to make Healesville a place where young people are supported, enabled and empowered. The artworks represent a current snapshot of young people’s voices and will remain on display for three months.

Cr Fiona McAllister said the artworks were informed by the experiences and aspirations of more than 100 local young people from Healesville High School, Healesville Indigenous Community Services Association, The Salvation Army’s youth group and The Good Life Farm.

“Gulsen led the young artists through a creative process where they physically and emotionally mapped Healesville and developed characters and symbols of people, places and experiences,” Cr McAllister said.

“The artwork gives young people a voice in a way that is positive and creative, offering a sense of joy and possibility.

“The themes explored include the importance of having openness towards everyone in the community and the importance of friendship.”

As the lead artist, Ms Ozer led young people in workshops where they created written descriptions, drawings, photographs and clay sculpture that represented their experiences of living in the town and their future aspirations.

Gulsen created a composition of the young artists’ work which was then designed and illustrated by collaborating artist Andrea Innocent with art direction from Gulsen and the young people.

Ms Ozer said Surrealesville presents many points of view and experiences of local young people, including enjoyment young people take in the natural landscape of their hometown and appreciation of a town where many young people enjoy growing up and feel supported.

Participant Bonnie said the mural connected all their drawings to create a unique world that inspires her imagination.

Brad Charman from YV Signs and artist Gulsen Ozer at The Memo.

“Kids these days is very clever,” Bonnie said.

“It will draw people’s attention because of its simplicity. I like how the design works so that when you travel around the corner and see the whole artwork, everything changes and lightens up, because you have a different view on everything.

“It makes you happy."

Toscano’s Yarra Valley owner Frank Toscano said he was excited for the installation to go ahead.

“It’s a good cause and a worthwhile exercise. These days people don’t always consider young people so it’s good to draw people’s attention to their needs,” Mr Toscano said.

While the piece Kids these days focuses on the importance of being able to see things from different perspectives, it also highlights the need to remember the simple things like compassion and empathy.

The Steering Group includes representatives from Council, Salvation Army Healesville, Eastern Community Legal Centre, Eastern Health, Lions Club of Healesville, Anchor Inc Housing Support, Healesville Inter-Church Community Care Inc, Inspiro, Healesville High School, Healesville Living and Learning Centre, the Outer Eastern Local Learning and Employment Network and Healesville Indigenous Community Services Association.

To find out more information or to join the It Takes a Town mailing list, contact Community Development Officer Jess Adams, on [email protected]

The artwork was installed on Thursday 7 March.