A sculpture that celebrates people who have a lived experience with disability arrived at the Geelong West Town Hall on Pakington Street today with the help of a crane truck.
I AM recognises the empowerment of diversity and draws from political and pop culture statements such as the 1968 Memphis black sanitation workers slogan "I AM a man", and Helen Reddy's 1971 anthem "I AM woman."
At more than two metres tall, the public artwork was designed to be relocated around the municipality and has previously been installed at the Geelong Waterfront and Austin Park in Lara.
The City commissioned Mark Cuthbertson with artist-collaborators Robert Croft, Hannah Wilkinson, Christian Den Besten and George Macaronis to develop the large-scale work, with more than 85 contributions from the community.
Funded by the Victorian Government through the Community Support Fund, I AM was delivered in partnership with VALiD (Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with Disabilities) and Geelong-based ArtGusto.
Deputy Mayor Anthony Aitken, Member for Geelong Christine Couzens MP, lead artist Mark Cuthbertson, project participants welcomed the inclusive artwork to Geelong West this morning.
Greater Geelong Mayor Trent Sullivan
I AM is a joyful and informative piece in Council's public art collection.This artwork not only celebrates people who live with a disability, but it gives them a voice.
I AM offers the opportunity to connect with the broader community about inclusivity and how diversity benefits us all.
Deputy Mayor Anthony Aitken, chair of the Volunteering and Disability portfolio
Each letter in the sculpture weighs around four tonnes.I AM was designed to be relocatable so that awareness can be raised across Greater Geelong around the important concepts it conveys.
It's also designed to invite community members to be a part of the work by positioning yourself within and taking photos, joining others in the region who celebrate diversity.
Christine Couzens MP, Member for Geelong
I am proud of the Andrews Government's funding of this important public work in Geelong.Many people in Geelong's all-abilities community worked for so long to make this fantastic artwork a reality.
It is great that this public sculpture, celebrating the contribution of people of all abilities to our community, will now be on display in Pakington Street.
Visitors can use the hashtag #IAMGeelong when posting photos to social media.
I AM can be found outside the Geelong West Town Hall at 153 Pakington Street, Geelong West until October.
