About Artworks & Artists
‘Gathering at Laurel Place’ was commissioned from Beverly Ash Gilbert - a US-based multimedia artist whose artistic style centres around the interplay of joyful color and free-form expression. Her focus is the connection between people across all cultures.
Our artwork was created to represent Laurel Place and the work we do with families, adults, young people and children. The Laurel Tree is central to the painting - with a family pensively looking towards the tree in hope, a joyful dancing group coming together under the umbrella of the Laurel tree in celebration of healing, and the two people to the right, looking towards the moon, the tree and the dancing figures in contemplation of the possibilities of a future of healing.
The artwork for the Moreton office was done by well-known Biripi artist, Jess King.
Jess describes the painting as a painting of ‘connection’, with the circle of hands representing a helping hand, somebody to talk to.
The inner circle symbolises a place of many rivers and healing that all lead to the same place - to find ourselves & inner peace.
Outside that is mountains to overcome & circles of trust, with dots creating a square to represent the solid foundation to build from.
Biripi artist, Jess King, also painted the artwork for the Gympie office. Jess’s painting incorporated the Laurel Tree, from which Laurel Place draws its name.
In Jess’s words:
"This is a painting of growth and strength. It captures the resilience and courage of the people who share their healing journey with Laurel Place.
Circles represent a place to go to with the same colour dots as around the tree to represent growth and strength within the circle. Like our inner strength and our circle of people is growth. Hands for connection to one another – that you’re not alone. Scattered dots to indicate a space of tranquillity and peace."
We were honoured when Wakka Wakka artist, Peter Carlo, accepted a commission for an artwork for our Murgon office.
Peter’s painting captures the spirit of the Murgon community and symbolises the work we do at Laurel Place. Peter explains the painting as follows:
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The centre circle, while reflecting the history of the area, is symbolic of the families we work with;
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The white symbols in the black outer circle represent the ancestors watching over the families;
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The blue area contains traditional symbols that represent family groups, with elders who guide and protect the children, and community groups to whom the children and families can go for support;
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The ancestors, families and community are linked by a series of tracks that depict the shared journey of caring for and protecting children.
This artwork is a commissioned painting by Tharawal artist, Paula Wootton.
Paula’s description of her painting:
The Aboriginal symbol for “sitting down place” or “meeting place” has been used with the three meeting places connected by tracks to and from the large centre circle representing the three Laurel Place services in Maroochydore, Gympie and Murgon*.
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The black and white spirit figures in the large centre circle symbolise Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous men, women, children and young people who receive or have received, counselling and support from Laurel Place.
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The hands, that face outward from the three meeting places, signify the support that Laurel Place offer out to the community, and the welcome extended to families and young people in need.
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The four symbols depicting people sitting around a camp in the outer borders of the painting represent the communities supporting men, women, families, young people and children who seek help, while their footprints facing inward toward the centre represent the journey of people going forward to accept the support offered by Laurel Place.
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Smoke has traditionally been used as an instrument of healing in Aboriginal culture, and in Aboriginal art it is commonly represented by a group of wavy lines. In this painting, there are six smoke symbols representing the physical, emotional, and mental health healing that takes place during the counselling journey.
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The colours used in the background dot painting reflect the colours used in Laurel Place’s original logo and branding.
*This artwork was completed before the establishment of the Moreton service