By Tanya Steele
Art has been popping up among some of the iconic walking trails of the Yarra Ranges in recent weeks.
A series of vivid signs and a large animal sculpture have both found new homes – becoming a part of a larger project in progress the ngurrak barring I Ridgewalk trail.
People can now experience the Pathmarker Birds at Birdsland Reserve in Belgrave Heights and the Tawny Frogmouth at Karwarra Australian Plant Garden and Nursery in Kalorama.
“Council is thrilled to announce the return of two popular artworks to the ngurrak barring I Ridgewalk trail,” said a council representative.
“These artworks help mark the ngurrak barring trail as it develops and create a deeper connection to the land and its stories,” they said.
Peter McIlwain’s artwork series, Pathmarker Birds and Renate Crow’s Tawny Frogmouth sculpture are now featured along the trail and both artists are happy to see their work settle into new locations.
“Having Tawny back so close to home in an absolutely beautiful setting – It feels like it’s come home,” said Renate.
The large animal sculpture sits nestled inside the Karwarra gardens and provides a presence looking over the gardens. The public can interact with the sculpture and sit in and around it and are also invited to write notes to Tawny.
“I love reading about the interaction with Tawny and what it means for people. I’ve had some quite beautiful comments,” said Renate.
Public visiting Birdlands reserve will now also spot Peter McIllwain’s series the “Pathmaker Birds” as they walk the trails.
In a description on his website, artist Peter said that wayside markers have been used for thousands of years to connect a specific place to a wider context.
“Shrines connect pilgrims to religious experiences, memorials to historical events and roadside memorials to road accidents,” the post read.
“The design style of his work draws on modern and ancient artistic traditions including the striking Mayan highly stylised bas-reliefs.”
“The layered design uses recurring modules of body parts: eye, heart, intestines etc so that the works are both abstract geometric pieces that have a visual rhythm that goes from piece to piece while being also playful stylised representations of birds.”
Occurring across 39 kilometres of walking track, the ngurrak barring | RidgeWalk has been designed for people to explore the region.
Art and interpretive content of various forms can be discovered across the track.
Originally commissioned by the council in early 2023, the duo both created temporary public artworks along the first section of the path in Sassafras.
Renate said she hopes the public can continue to enjoy her work and the gardens.
“People relate to it, they see them (tawny frogmouths) everywhere,” she said.
Work on the ngurrak barring I Ridgewalk trai continues and recently rail upgrades for Bleakley Track in Sherbrooke Forest have been completed, and the track is now reopened for use.
