Artist: Paul Maher and local school students
Artwork Name: Cultural Diversity
Date Created: 1996 - 2000
The mosaics placed in the pathway around Awaba house were designed and constructed during a series of workshops from 1996 to 2000 by Paul Maher and school students from the region. Each work reflects cultural diversity and changing aspects of the environment, as well as aspects of the gallery and its development. The images depicted are of Awaba House, the lake, the vegetation and local Aboriginal stories.
Paul Maher is a Newcastle-based artist whose practice centres on suburban landscape painting and drawing, and is a skilled creator of mosaic artworks.
Maher first exhibited in Newcastle in the late 1980s after graduating from The University of Newcastle in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts (Visual Arts) and a Post-Graduate Diploma – Painting in 1985. He first exhibited at galleries including Nick Mitzevich’s 249 Gallery, The Lock Up’s John Paynter Gallery and Von Bortouch Galleries and has continued to maintain a steady exhibition practice.
He played a leading role in public and community art projects that flourished in Newcastle following the 1989 earthquake. His public art included several large-scale post-earthquake murals across the City and pavemental mosaics which are still in place on Beaumont Street Hamilton.