Tapestry to mark Canberra's centenary unveiled
4 December 2013 | Canberra, Australia | Feature
Speaker Vicki Dunne MLA has welcomed guests from across the Canberra arts community and beyond to the official handing over of The Great Centenary Tapestry. Formally handed over to the Speaker by Mary Porter AM MLA, the community tapestry is the work of hundreds of weavers from across the Territory and is based on a design by acclaimed local artist Annie Trevillian.
Dubbed The Great Centenary Tapestry by Sir William Deane at the cutting-off ceremony in November, the large textile work was sponsored by Centenary 100 and the Legislative Assembly Arts Advisory Committee. Valerie Kirk, Head of Textiles at the ANU School of Art, co-ordinated the project which saw hundreds of participants involved in creating the intricate patterns of well-known Canberra icons against a backdrop of the mountainous landscape bordering the city.
“This tapestry – The Great Centenary Tapestry – is a permanent mark of Canberra’s first 100 years I am very happy to gratefully accept it on behalf of all members of the Legislative Assembly,” Mrs Dunne said. “My sincere thanks goes to all of those who have been involved.”
“The work speaks to the strong interconnectedness of our community – both in the process undertaken to produce the work and in the final product itself.”
The tapestry will be permanently displayed along the London Circuit side of the Assembly building.