Burrow with a Bilby in the Mall this Easter

If you’ve ever wanted to take part in an art installation and help create a giant Bilby burrow, do we have an Easter surprise for you.

As part of the Easter School Holiday activities, artist Elyssa Sykes-Smith will build a Bilby burrow using recycled timber in the Crown Street Mall. The artwork will be suspended high under the bridge located in the upper Crown Street Mall and everyone is welcome to get involved.  The Bilby Burrow aims to encourage the audience to explore the site, to stop, look upwards.

Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said it’s wonderful to see a specific installation artwork being created in the City Centre.

“It will be an exciting and vibrant time in the City Centre, especially as the artwork will be created not just by the artist but also by children who can paint pieces for the Bilby burrow. These individual pieces will be suspended onto the artwork in the Mall on Wednesday 17 April.

“This will add another dimension to our Mall. It will allow children to participate in creating a large artwork and will spark conversation and kids’ imagination.

“In addition, at a time when everyone’s minds are on rabbits, I hope, the artwork will also raise awareness of one of Australia’s threatened species like the Bilby and how important they are to the desert habitat where they live.”

Elyssa Sykes-Smith is an artist currently working within the fields of site-specific sculpture, installation, performance and public art. Elyssa has previously exhibited in the Sculpture by the Sea, at the Mind Walk in Western Australia and in Barangaroo Reserve, Sydney.

“The sculpture not only responds to a site but also brings it to life, creating a dynamic relationship between the audience, artwork and surrounding environment,” Elyssa Sykes-Smith said.

The installation artwork is being delivered through a partnership between Wollongong City Council and Wollongong Central.

Easter Bilby – Temporary Sculpture 11 – 28 April Bilby Burrow celebrates Easter while raising awareness about the important role the bilby plays in Australia particularly through it’s burrowing habits, and about the sad fact that the bilby is an endangered species, under threat of extinction. The “burrow” is a symbol of shelter and of care.  Bilby Burrow calls for people to consider how they can help and care for the bilbies in their own communities.

Easter Bilby   – Children’s Open Workshops Sunday 14 until Tuesday 16 April, 11am – 1pm each day Children and adults are invited to help make the artwork through free workshops.  Participants can meet with the artist and paint pieces of recycled timber that will be included in the artwork.

Easter Bilby – Live Burrow Build Wednesday 17 April, 10.30am, 11.30am and 12.30pm The pieces that are made at the workshops will be included in the artwork by Elyssa as part of the Easter Bilby Live Burrow Build performance.

Easter Bilby  – Treasure Hunt Thursday 18 April and Saturday 20 April, 9am till 4pm Families can participate in the Easter Bilby Treasure Hunt by picking up a treasure map (from Wollongong Central Customer Service Desk) and searching the shopfront windows of the Crown Street Mall to find the six bilby names, with the reward of a Bilby chocolate.

For more details on these activities visit the City Centre website  or check out Crown Street Mall on Facebook.  For more information contact our Customer Service team on (02) 4227 7111.

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