St Andrews mosaic seat – after the fires.
On Feb 7 2009 a number of areas in Victoria experienced a massive firestorm in which 173 people died.
One of the areas which was severely affected by this fire storn was the Kinglake -Kinglake West- St Andrew’s- Strathewen area. More than 1200 homes were destroyed in this area and 120 people died. Many people were deeply affected by what had happened on that day and were looking for a way to help. Chris, a friend of mine, decided to start a mosaic group in St Andrews and a group of women began to meet once a week bringing with them pieces of broken china, glass tile and bricks which they had managed to salvage from their properties after the fires had burnt through.
Chris taught them how to mosaic and together they created pieces of art which managed to preserve some memory of that which they had lost in the fires.
After finishing their personal pieces the group decided that they would like to make something for the community which would artistically express their memories of what had happened before, during and beyond that day on Feb 7 2009.
It was agreed that they would make a mosaic seat, which would tell the story and which would sit in St Andrew’s by the Hall (near where the market is held every Saturday).
For over two years these women came together every week and their personal stories, memories and experiences were encorporated into the mosiac design.
The Lasting Memories Mosaic seat was officially unveiled on Mothers Day, May 2012.
For those who are interested there is a video of the mosaic seat on you tube
under St Andrews Lasting Memories Mosaic Seat