The Seddon Snapshots Public Art Project

Many years ago, back in 2005, I cofounded a small community photo exhibition in my new home suburb of Seddon. I loved my new home, but I was struggling to feel like I belonged. I was 7 years post brain injury and although I had decided to break free of the disabling disability services mindset, and to live independently in the community, I didn't yet know how to create my new life. When I visited the local street shops or went to local community events, none of my disabled friends were there. The shops often weren't accessible, support wasn't available and many people didn't feel safe or included. And so in a possibly naive and idealistic way, we decided to create an event that would be inclusive of everyone, not just able bodied people. And we would put the project right in the middle of that community where we were invisible.

That first year in 2006, we met in the local park a few times, supported each other to take photos and the local council disability worker helped out. We found a shop willing to put in a temporary ramp that we had built and we invited all our disabled friends to come and put up or view our photo exhibition. 

And every year, the project grew, until in 2011, there was nearly 200 entries displayed in over 20 shop windows. 

I left that year, to focus on my own art studies. (The project has happened 3 times since, led by different locals, although sadly without much attention to being inclusive of people who are marginalised or with disability.)

Anyway, over the past 2 years, with my new art skills, I have been dreaming of undertaking a new local project, to take some of the photographic entries, blow them up really big and put them up on walls throughout Seddon.

And this year has finally seen my health improve enough to undertake this ambitious project. (Except that it turned out to be even more ambitious than I had imagined!) 

In the past 2 months, I have been working really hard to install 20 large artworks across public street walls across Seddon and beyond. I have had some great new and old friends help out.

These works are about 1.6 x 2m. Some of them are really high up. 

So far they have received very favourable attention and only minimal 'tagging'. 

I am exhausted but proud! And once again, I feel more connected to my community. And hopefully. others will too.

Thanks to all the owners of the brick walls who have granted me permission to use them. Thanks to all the people who helped choose the final 20 out of 800 past Snapshots of Seddon entries. And thanks to Maribyrnong Council for giving me a small grant to undertake this project.

Here's a few pics.

And here is a map so that you can find them all.