Dubbo's Lewis Burns is one of three finalists in the search to find an Indigenous artist to design a large-scale kinetic piece for the Old Dubbo Gaol Heritage Plaza.
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Mr Burns, Bianca Beetson and Kent Morris have made it to the final round of Dubbo Regional Council's search based on their pitches for the 513 square-metre piece.
The design had to incorporate the theme 'Community, Country, Connection: finding common ground'.
The top three artists will receive $5000 to develop their concept. The winner will then get $10,000 to develop the design, a $55,000 artist fee and $20,000 prize money.
Mr Burns' concept for the artwork revolved around the story of Daroo.
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"Daroo is a dreamtime story which originated in the region around Dubbo, describing the discovery of the first platypus. This is a story of resilience, survival and metamorphosis," Mr Burns wrote in his concept statement.
"The story of Daroo invites contemplation on the themes of resilience and survival, as well as the idea that a community will metamorphose over time into the place where its people want to live."
Mr Morris lives in Melbourne on Yauk-ut Weelam Country but his aunties and uncles live in Dubbo.
His design will showcase the significance of rivers, as well as the deep ancestral knowledge embedded in Country, the continuation of that knowledge with new technology and the importance of healing on Country.
Ms Beetson is a Kabi Kabi Wiradjuri woman from the Sunshine Coast. Her piece would explore the process of asking permission to enter Country when a visitor first announces themselves to the ancestors.
The artwork would include a voice-activated whispering wall and LED lighting.
The artists will now workshop their design concepts and carry out community consultation.
"There was an impressive field of artists, and it was so difficult to choose just three from a large field of candidates. It's great to see that our top three have a strong connection to the Dubbo region, and even better that we have a local shortlisted," Dubbo mayor Ben Shields said.
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