By Cam Lucadou-Wells
An iconic painting that hangs proudly in a Narre Warren office is a little-known inspiration for the design of Casey’s civic-arts hub Bunjil Place.
The painting in question is Meeting of Many Paths – a community grant artwork created for Casey North Community Information and Support Service.
It has had pride of place at the CISS offices since it was painted by the late Aboriginal artist Cathy Adams in 2001.
Its owners at CISS however had little inkling of the earthy painting’s influence on Bunjil Place until recently.
Hardly any knew at CISS’s recent AGM – until a video interview was screened with Bunjil architects FJMT which explained the link.
In the video, FJMT stated that they drew upon the painting’s depiction of place, its wildlife and the new “tribes” that have settled in Casey.
The building’s namesake Bunjil the Eagle also found expression in the structure’s sweeping wings.
Speaking soon after the AGM, CISS executive director Susan Magee said she could see the painting’s influence.
The way all paths lead to Bunjil’s welcoming central plaza among the rolling lawns and channels.
Meeting of Many Paths warmly depicts a welcome stick planted in a circular hub with ‘many paths’ of welcome leading to its heart.
The indigenous wildlife, the brolga-inhabited swampland in what was known as ‘Narre Narre Warren’ and greetings in the languages of the area’s “new tribes” are represented.
Its style is typical of Indigenous artwork in this region, Ms Magee says.
Curiously though, CISS had no interaction with the project nor its architects.
“I had no idea,” Ms Magee said.
“Why didn’t they talk to us from the beginning?”
