The Abraham Project
To coincide with the landscaping of the campus, the new Dean of Whyalla, Len Pullen has commissioned an artwork to be sited in the East and West courtyards of the M building (see map below). Concurrently a commemorative marker was being planned at Whyalla for the Abraham project. The Abraham Project is a reconciliation project between Jewish, Muslim and now Christian faiths, three faiths that share a common heritage in the Faith of Abraham, often called the religions of the book because they share their foundational stories. Although starting in Adelaide, the Abraham Project is now a national initiative thanks to a federal ‘Living in Harmony’ grant, Whyalla is one site of the project. The project also seeks to mark outward signs of reconciliation, eg. Gardens, commemorative plaques. Gary Misan (Associate professor of the Spencer Gulf rural health school) is handling the project at the Whyalla Campus.
VADRG has decided to combine the commission with ideas brought up by the Abraham project. The way we think about this commission, the approaches and negotiations are all research towards, 'Not – there: The ethics and politics of non-monumental art and design practices for/as public space'.
Links:
For more information about Project Abraham download this booklet from the Migration Museum (pdf)
The Federal Government's Living in Harmony program
This website will be used as a way of collecting and sharing ideas, proposals, images and information for the Abraham project. All members can share information by linking to this site, contact Bridget Currie on bridget.currie@unisa.edu.au
Oasis proposal, Pam Zeplin and Jim Moss