COUNCILLORS have expressed reservations around proposed art pieces as part of $8.5m enhancements to the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail as they might not fit the landscape, however, they have now endorsed the designs.
Part one is the Bowser to Tarrawingee section themed 'Magpie Alley', and features an artistic version of magpies, designed by artist Emily Floyd.
Part two, the Milawa to Oxley section, will have the theme 'Palate Palette', representing food grown in the district, designed by artist Beci Orpin.
Cr Harvey Benton was the only councillor to vote against their endorsement, works that include contemporary style magpies and food items including mushrooms, an egg, olive branch, grapes, raspberry, garlic, rough back myrtle and cheese.
Cr Dave Fuller moved the motion to endorse the designs and he noted that "while art is sometimes hard to take in some forms, in other forms people see it as beauty".
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"This is one of those projects where we've been fortunate enough that we've been given funding through Tourism North East to have the opportunity to have art installed," he said.
Cr Benton said he was struggling to support the motion as the designs do not fit the landscape.
"I think in the early process, some of the community communication was lost and we should have been able to come up with something connecting to history from around that area," he said.
Cr Irene Grant said she was "dubious" about the project, but she did support the endorsement of the designs.
"I feel some of this artwork has been hoisted on our community without our community really fully understanding or accepting that this is something that we as a community will have to maintain into the future," she said.
"I have a strong sense of caution about this proposal and it's being funded externally and that's great.
"However, art is subjective and I love community art and art in the landscape, it looks fabulous."
Ms Floyd is a Melbourne-based artist who works on general spaces for engagement and interaction, while provoking discussions about contemporary ideas.
"The proposed project encompasses a series of playful 'Eye Spy' magpie themed installations, leading up to a giant magpie family," she said in her application statement.
"The hero magpie will stand at five to six metres tall, creating a landmark, Instagram friendly icon.
"Magpies are a key indicator of biodiversity, they are intertwined with the different plants, animals, micro-organisms and ecosystems of which they are a part."
Ms Orpin was tasked to develop a concept design that was "a colourful, whimsical journey that evokes the complex flavours of the region in unexpected ways".
Her biography says she has more than 25 years' experience evoking wonder and optimism through her practices, with an emphasis on colour and shape.
"With an emphasis on colour and shape, her work bridges illustration, craft and design to create vibrant installations and graphics which often take the form of plants, animals and quirky characters," it reads.
Ms Orpin collaborated with local makers, residents and primary schools to capture different perspectives on the regional flavours.
The art was also endorsed by council’s public art acquisitions committee prior to council's decision.
The committee recommended that the proposed artworks be accepted as a donation into the community’s public art collection and if the donation is accepted, the artworks will become council assets.
