Reservoir locals will see a splash of colour on their temporary station as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from the Preston based Narrun Yana Art Collective display their work at the level crossing removal site.
Young artists Rubii Red, Nakia Cadd and Graham ‘BJ’ Braybon each contributed a piece. The three works are now on display on the High Street, Reservoir temporary station façade.
The dynamic and vivid artworks feature traditional and modern methods and mediums, exploring cultural themes.
The Narrun Yana Art Collective is a space for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to receive mentoring from established Aboriginal artists, to learn cultural protocols and practice and to develop ways to generate income. It forms part of programs provided at the state-wide Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA).
VACCA is the largest Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) of its kind in Australia and has sought to protect and promote the rights of children and families for more than 40-years.
From the Woiwurrung language, Narrun Yana means spirit journey.
Rubii’s work features an Aboriginal man framed by the words ‘Wominjeka’, meaning welcome.
'I like to create work that celebrates my culture and addresses issues in the community,' Rubii said.
Nakia’s rendition of a kookaburra ‘laughing’ reflects her fascination with native birds.
'The laughter and blue wing of a kookaburra are so unique and beautiful,' Nakia said. 'To me kookaburras are a positive symbol.'
Meanwhile BJ used his more abstract work to experiment in digital art.
As the artwork was installed on the façade, work on the level crossing removal continued to ramp up within the construction site with the rail bridge structure beginning to take shape.
On average, 36,000 vehicles travel through the notorious Reservoir level crossing each day where High Street, Cheddar Road and Spring Street intersect.
The 6 boom gates at this maze-like intersection can be down for 24-minutes during the 2-hour morning peak.
The project is also building a brand-new modern station with a landscaped civic plaza, improving connections for the 4000 people who used it each weekday.
In the past decade there were 3 recorded collisions, a fatality and 26 near misses at this level crossing. This includes an incident where a train and car collided earlier this year, further highlighting the need for this level crossing to be removed.
Work to improve safety and deliver more trains on the Mernda Line, used by 33,000 each weekday, is continuing with another 4 level crossing removals and the construction of 2 new stations at Bell and Preston to begin in 2020.
Artists profiles
Rubii Red
Rubii Red is a proud Aboriginal and Torres Strait woman from Cairns, Queensland. Her mob is the Lama Lama people of Coen, in the Cape York Peninsula but she has grown up in Melbourne, Victoria in foster care.
Rubii is an aspiring photographer and film-maker, writer, portrait and abstract artist. Rubii’s abstract works are focused on her emotions, experiences and thoughts and help her to release both negative and positive feelings.
Rubii is currently exploring digital art and creating some amazing pieces on the iPad.
Nakia Cadd
Nakia Cadd is a proud Gunditjmara, Yorta, Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung and Bunitj woman who grew up in the Northern suburbs of Melbourne.
Nakia’s work has strong design elements of line work that connect with her family lines and landscapes of her Countries.
In 2018 Nakia created her own baby range called Willan Wear. Onesies and t-shirts with her distinct designs can be ordered through VACCA.
Graham Braybon
Graham Braybon is a descendant of the Kooma/Kunja clans in central Queensland on his father’s side and Gunai/Kurnai on his mother’s side.
He is known as BJ, which is short for Bootsy Junior after his grandfather Bootsy.
BJ works in wood creating designs using wood burning tools; he also paints and draws exploring different mediums to show case his distinct style.
