Community leaves art installation

Were St community leaves project scene

Community is an artwork created for and by the locals of Montmorency.

A series of metal leaves, based on eucalyptus leaves gathered at the site, have been placed in the garden beds and attached to some of the infrastructure within the renewed Were Street Reserve.

About the leaves

Each leaf is unique with its own whisper line that you can read in the midrib (the line that runs down the centre) of each leaf.

The whispers were collected by asking local community members to respond to the question: What does Were Street mean to you and your loved ones?

Their answers were recorded, and the resulting soundwave patterns were laser-cut into the steel leaves. More than 150 whispers were submitted, and the 17 selected embody the most common themes and special memories.

Explore Community

A place of comfort and connection.

A place of comfort and connection.

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Welcoming

Welcoming

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Community

Community

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Part of a vibrant, artistic, welcoming community.

Part of a vibrant, artistic, welcoming community.

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Friendly

Friendly

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Connected

Connected

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Beautifully nostalgic

Beautifully nostalgic

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The quite bustling of locals admidst the sounds of birds in the trees.

The quite bustling of locals admidst the sounds of birds in the trees.

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Community and belonging, saying hello to someone you know from your past, present or a friendly hello to someone who may become a future friend. So many connections are made and maintained on Were Street.

Community and belonging, saying hello to someone you know from your past, present or a friendly hello to someone who may become a future friend. So many connections are made and maintained on Were Street.

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Catching up with friends and loved ones over many chai lattes.

Catching up with friends and loved ones over many chai lattes.

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Our first home in Australia.

Our first home in Australia.

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Coffee! Convenience! Community!

Coffee! Convenience! Community!

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Coffee

Coffee

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It's inclusive, all are welcome!

It's inclusive, all are welcome!

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Belonging

Belonging

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My early memories include a second-hand builders yard where the town square now exists. The elderly owner would sit on a chair on a sunny day, sharpening saws. He was a font of knowledge on building materials.

My early memories include a second-hand builders yard where the town square now exists. The elderly owner would sit on a chair on a sunny day, sharpening saws. He was a font of knowledge on building materials.

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Memories: The Rotex Cinema, kids playing on the rocks, milkshakes.

Memories: The Rotex Cinema, kids playing on the rocks, milkshakes.

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About the artist

Deb Lemcke is a multidisciplinary artist who brings people and ideas together through participatory art projects, creating opportunities to explore new perspectives and make new connections. Lemcke called Were Street her local for 20 years and spent hundreds of hours drinking coffee, working and relaxing there.

Location

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