The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre
An innovative multi-arts hub in the heart of Blacktown City.
Archive | Democratic Garden
In the spring of 2014, Urban Theatre Projects (UTP) and Blacktown Arts collaborated with Western Sydney residents to create a living installation called Democratic Garden.
Curated by Rosie Dennis from UTP, the installation was created from hundreds of plants that reflected the cultural diversity and demographics of Blacktown. Planting began at Grantham Community Garden and, once ready, the plants were transplanted into a purpose-built vertical wooden pallet garden.
The final installation measured 3m (h) x 9m (w) and featured a small dirt path lined with rocks painted by Aboriginal residents to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land.
The Democratic Garden installation came to a close with a giving day where community were invited to participate in the deconstruction of the garden by receiving the harvested plants. In this way, the garden lives on through the community and a version of the structure itself can be seen in the carpark today.
Listen to an SBS interview with Blacktown Arts curator, Paschal Daantos Berry.
Read an interview with Rosie Dennis and the Sydney Morning Herald…
… and another interview with Rosie and the Blacktown Sun.
