SMNW Artwork April2020  050

Public art

Tina Havelock Stevens and collaborators, The Hills Are Alive, 2019. Commissioned by Landcom in 2019 for Sydney Metro Northwest Places Public Art Program. Image courtesy of Landcom.

Bella Vista: The Hills Are Alive by Tina Havelock Stevens and collaborators

A multi-layered reflection on the past, present and future of the Hills district, this artwork highlights the perspectives of the traditional custodians of the land, the Darug people, through Leanne Watson’s paintings of the local area totem, Kutukulung, the long neck turtle, and Darug language provided by Erin Wilkins. Alongside these are impressions by local writers who developed their works with writer Vanessa Berry in workshops facilitated by Westwords Centre for Writing.

The Hills Are Alive was part of Hasta La Bella Vista Baby, a project by long Sydney-based artist Tina Havelock Stevens who worked with the Bella Vista and Hills Shire community throughout 2019.

Local writers: Gwen Bitti, Jean Burke, Jesse Delauney, Grace De Leon, Rob Feldman, Danielle Geracitano, Vanessa Hatfield, Artelle Lenthall, Julie Thorndyke. Designed by Rose McEwen and Alex Torcutti. Co-commissioned by Landcom and the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia’s C3West program.

Read more about Tina Havelock Stevens and Hasta La Bella Vista Baby.