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A people's celebration lives on
At the end of 2001, a remarkable event took place that touched thousands of Australians and marked the finale to Centenary of Federation celebrations.
The experience can now be relived with The Peoplescape--a book that recounts the Peoplescape event and tells the story of the many Australians who took staring roles.
Taking pride of place in the very heart of the national capital, the Peoplescape--one of the largest outdoor art installations this country has known--celebrated the lives of thousands of Australians with decorated life-size figures that overran the slopes of Parliament House and adjacent Federation Mall.
The Peoplescape not only honoured 4000 Australians in paint, glitter, poetry and all manner of creative ways, but involved many more. Across the country thousands of people nominated a person important to them and then decorated one of the life-size figures to be included in the exhibition.
The installation stood in place for ten days withstanding gale-force winds and attracting large numbers of the community wandering through the Peoplescape, reading the many inspirational stories of ordinary Australian women and men.
An accompanying website enabled all of Australia and the world to search and read online all of the Peoplescape stories. A live event was also broadcast nationally on the ABC with leading Australian entertainers celebrating the spirit of Australia and her people through a number of Peoplscape figures.
Following the Peoplescape and due to the popularity of the event the National Council for the Centenary of Federation decided that a Peoplescape book would be a suitable lasting legacy of the event and the Centenary year.
The Peoplescape will be published in October this year as a co-publication with Hardi Grant Books. Written by historian and broadcaster Michael McKernan, with a foreword by Professor Geoffrey Blainey, the book tells the story of the Peoplescape and those in it. It includes illustrations of the installation and the individual figures that made it so memorable. A comprehensive index lists all those who were successfully nominated for the Peoplescape together with the name of the nominator.
The high quality publication is a very special tribute to those whose generosity, hard work and creativity made the Peoplescape such a success.
For more information about the book call 02 6270 8276.
Photos by Andrew Hobbs Photography.