Right up your alley (Community Art Subiaco)

Any right-minded person wouldn’t normally wander off down a dark alleyway, but that’s exactly what the Mayor of Subiaco, Heather Henderson, asked us to do last week. At first I pondered whether she’d uncovered some foolproof strategy to swell the Councils coffers …

Laneway art Subiaco WA © The Ponder Room

Before sending us on our way in search of said alleyway, Mayor Henderson explained that the Councils new community arts strategy centred on three types of art – works on walls; temporary laneway pieces; and permanent pieces. I’ve already shown you one of the permanent pieces (God’s Chair), now for an example of the laneway art.



Laneway art Subiaco WA © The Ponder Room

This temporary laneway piece was created by highly acclaimed Fremantle based sculptor Olga Cironis. Made up of hundreds of feathers and a piano wrapped in blankets, it’s situated in the laneway near Smales Jewellery on Rokeby Road.

Olga Cironis  © The Ponder Room



On the evening of its launch the owner of the piano was also present. She explained that the piano originally belonged to her mother and was transported to WA many years ago … the journey an arduous trip across hot sands.

I know pianos are often wrapped in blankets when they’re stored or moved, but I doubt the original owner could have ever contemplated this outcome.

Public art is designed to enhance public engagement, contemplation and investigation and this piece certainly ticks all these boxes …
…you have to search to find it

…then ponder about the phrase the weight of voices echo in the black sand (Hint: it relates to the piano being carried over sands on it’s journey to Perth).

…and it isn’t long before other people engaged you in conversation about it … community art in action.

Laneway art Subiaco WA © The Ponder Room

Laneway art Subiaco WA © The Ponder Room

Laneway art Subiaco WA © The Ponder Room

As I stood there one of the things I pondered was how long the piece would hold up in the rain … until I remembered that most of it was made of feathers!! I hope you get to see it while it’s still in good condition. I also hope it will be the first of many laneway pieces … here’s hoping the Council coffers hold up.

For more information about Olga Cironis