Central Coast Council has unveiled its Big Chair Project and residents are being invited to sit up and take notice.
The project, which involved students from Gorokan and Terrigal High Schools, San Remo Neighbourhood Centre (The Epicentre), The Entrance Men’s Shed and a team from Fairhaven’s Disability Enterprise Team, has seen five dazzling beach chairs installed around waterfronts across the Coast.
The oversized chairs were constructed by Men’s Shed members and then painted by the other groups, with the artwork on each chair designed to reflect the character and unique identity of the suburbs where they’ve been installed.
Doubling as an interactive public art installation, residents and visitors alike are being encouraged to follow the Big Chair Trail to observe and interact with the chairs, which were installed at their designated locations on December 19.
Council’s Director Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan, said the Big Chair Project had brought the community together, with the new assets set to enhance visitor experience these holidays.
“I’m excited to see a project from Council’s eMerge youth program in partnership with community groups come to life.
“This program supports emerging artists and has provided an opportunity for participants to explore their creativity and showcase their talents to the wider community,” Vaughan said.
“These groups have done a great job expressing the town centre identity and culture in their designs and I encourage our community from the north to the south to seek out a Big Chair near you, snap a fun photo and share it on social media with the hashtag CCbigchairs,”she added.
Council Administrator, Dick Persson, said it was great to see this creative community-led endeavour come to fruition despite the challenges of 2020.
“The Big Chair Project has not only provided a creative outlet and important social connection for the creators, but has also delivered an engaging art installation for the rest of the community and visitors to enjoy,” Persson said.
The Big Chairs are located at: Mackenzie Reserve, Budgewoi (Weemala St); Canton Beach foreshore, Toukley (Beach Pde, near the intersection with Lakeview Pde); Woy Woy Wharf foreshore (Brick Wharf Rd, near the playspace); Terrigal Beach foreshore (Terrigal Esplanade, next to Terrigal Surf Life Saving Club); and, Umina Beach foreshore (Sydney Ave, next to Umina Surf Life Saving Club).
Dilon Luke