TREE OF LIFE… The mural in the Forbes Hospital was done by Peak Hill artist Scott ‘Sauce’ Towney (right) to create a more sympathetic atmosphere for people headed to the mortuary in a time of stress.
A drab and dark corridor in the Forbes Hospital has been transformed into a wonder world of Wiradjuri skylore and trees.
A mural was created by acclaimed Wiradjuri artist Scott ‘Sauce’ Towney from Peak Hill. He was commissioned to develop a mural for the mortuary corridor at the hospital as part of the Lachlan Arts and Culture Program for the redevelopment of Parkes and Forbes hospitals.
Scott developed the design using the Yarran-Do (Yarran Tree) connecting the earth to the sky. The Yarran-Do has Wiradjuri carved tree symbols on the tree, while Wiradjuri constellation designs link the tree to the sky and flow down the corridor towards the mortuary entry. The river also flows through the image. Scott developed symbols that are relevant to the function of the mural, guiding people to the mortuary.
The unadorned mortuary corridor is in the service area of the hospital with storage spaces on each side. Staff member, Carolyn Pearce suggested that the corridor could use a makeover to be more sympathetic to people headed to the mortuary in a time of stress.
Scott is well known for his public art works in the Forbes and Parkes Shires. He has done many murals and his work is represented on footy shirts and his famous Emu in the Sky features on a $1 Australian coin. Scott has completed a series of works on Wiradjuri sky stories which has been adapted for the mural in the mortuary corridor.
The arts and health team of Arts OutWest coordinated the mural project, which was completed last month.
By Maggi Barnard