Commission Work - Margaret Christianson

DREAM STITCHES MURAL PANELS

In 2017 l was commissioned to design & paint a series of mural panels 1m x 1m for Dream Stitches Children’s Play Area which are now installed.

http://www.dreamstitches.org.au/

Final mural panel depicting children dancing to the song ‘Lord of the Dance’

The Coburg Historical Society and Coburg Primary School

ANZAC Memorial –

The World War 1 Centenary Anniversary Memorial Gates

In early 2017 l was granted a commission to design and create an ANZAC Memorial Gate for The Coburg Historical Society, in partnership with Coburg Primary School in dedication to the memory of the thirty-five pupils of the school who died in World War One.

There once stood an Avenue of Honour dedicated to the memory of these pupils. The school’s choice of trees was significant. Trees represent growth, life and longevity. Planted as seeds and saplings, they would grow older, bigger, stronger in a way that the men they represent could not. Great care was taken to look after these trees but by the early 1960s the avenue of trees were cut down for further development in the school-grounds.

As part of a grant received from an ANZAC Centenary project The Coburg Historical Society and Coburg Primary School commissioned Margaret to design and create a cortensteel gate for Elm Grove in memory of these pupils who attended the school in the 1890s and early 1900s who died in World War One. Important motifs to incorporate in the design of the gates were the thirty-five soldiers and elm trees, wattle, gum leaves and poppies.

The thirty-five soldiers cut out in silhouette and leaning against the thirty-five elm trees represent the thirty-five former pupils
Wattle tree in flower to symbolise Australia, regrowth and re-generation
The poppies are the International symbol of World War One. They also symbolise Remembrance Day and ANZAC Day in Australia.

The World War 1 Centenary Anniversary Memorial Gates were completed later in 2017 and officially opened on 10th October 2017 at a special school assemble.

Chalk dusting the two panels so they match up

Top quarter in the background & bottom panel being cut for the left side of the gate

Different stages of the chalking process

First gate now rusted in the background & second gate top panel drawn up for cutting

A day of hand-held plasma cutting the top panel of second gate

Different stages of chalking lower panel of second gate in preparation for drawing over chalk

Cutting out the elm leaves using my hand-held plasma cutter with different stages of the process above

Second top panel of gate finished and different stages of the cutting process in the forground

Spring in my garden with workshop in the background

Nearly there…wattle, poppies done and now hundreds of elm leaves to cut just as the real ones are starting to flower

Elm trees & leaves all cut-out. Now for the last remaining soldiers

All four panels of the two gates for Coburg Primary School are finished just need time to cortensteel to rust

Final panel has now ‘rusted’ after a week in the garden in all weather…now to assemble all four panels to make the gates for Coburg Primary School

Day of gate installation at Coburg Primary School. Thank you to those who helped it was a brillant afternoon

Gates in intalled Thursday & official opening Friday afternoon

Friday 10th of November 2017 Official Opening of the World War 1 Centenary Anniversary Memorial Gate

So happy to be part of this project for Coburg Primary School & Coburg Historical Society

Cheryl Griffin author of The Old Boys of Coburg State School go to War presenting me with her wonderful book

METAL WALL PANEL for SASSAFRAS TAVERN

In September of 2018 I was commissioned to create an artwork for the entrance wall of Sassafras Tavern. The image for the Tavern is that of a Lyrebird. With that in mind I designed and drew a lyrebird onto a circular piece of corten steel 120 x 120cm. Lots of fun and fine feathers.

http://sassafrastavern.com.au