Create our culture with your colours

Before Sydney’s latest lockdown, Georges River Council teamed up with Artist Abbey Rich on a project to revitalise the entrance of Hurstville Library. Both Council’s Create Georges River – Cultural Strategy and Libraries 2030 – Library Strategy have shown a strong desire within the community for lively, welcoming and creative spaces in the Georges River area.

Abbey, who originally hails from Melbourne, Victoria, offered their artistic skills on a project to reflect the vibrancy of our libraries and the large and diverse community that regularly frequent them. Abbey’s art now sits proudly at Hurstville Library across the panels with bright, vibrant florals that bring life to the library entrance. Now the entry to Hurstville Library has intrigue and warmth for every local library member to feel welcomed.

‘Libraries are beautiful spaces; they are filled with such a broad cross section of the community. Focussing on pattern and colour, I wanted the design to feel exciting but not garish. Including some local native plants was also a way to ground the design in its location, referencing the native landscape in a very built-up area’ Abbey said.

Abbey also noted that working alongside the Georges River community helped inspired the piece. They mention that they had the community in mind and wanted to create something that all residents could be proud of when seeing their art.

‘Whilst most of this mural was designed independently it is the thought and consideration needed to create something that a community can be proud of that is endlessly inspiring for me.’

Abbey looks back fondly on the opportunity to paint and bring their creativity to Hurstville. They spoke about the positive feedback they received from Georges River locals that has left a happy memory on this experience for them.

‘I had so much beautiful feedback and lovely chats with locals - more so than ever really. I had teenagers asking questions about how to be an artist, kids wanting to borrow the brush and add some paint themselves, parents talking with their kids about the design with me. It was beautiful, I felt really lucky to be able to bring some joy both in the moment and more permanently with the artwork itself. I'm very grateful for the community in allowing me to make this work for them.’