Eastwood Threads was a collaborative and communal art project, creating decorative flags to hang in our distinctive town centre.
About the Project
In partnership with CASS, the City of Ryde called out for artworks reflecting the stories, people and places that make Eastwood unique. We received 36 submissions from people that live, work, learn and play in our city.
Although the submitted artworks varied in topic, many referenced common themes of food, cultural heritage and family.
Eastwood-based artist Chris Yee skillfully threaded these diverse artworks together, creating digital tapestries to share local stories through art and design. The tapestries will be printed as flags and hung around Eastwood from 1 July until 9 August 2020, and will be used on future occasions.
“As an artist born and raised in Ryde it’s always been a goal of mine to do something creative in my home community and to especially highlight the diverse cultural backdrop we inhabit,” Mr Yee said.
“It was amazing to involve the people I love and communities I am greatly influenced by in my work. During this odd, unpredictable year it's been a personal relief hearing the shared stories and experiences of our wide generational community. I hope this experience sparks more creative exercise in our bright community and does justice to the fabric and stories of our people.”
The Eastwood Threads project was delivered in English, Mandarin and Korean. More than half of the artworks submitted were by artists and community members who speak a language other than English at home.
About the Artist
Chris Yee is an East Ryde (Sydney) based artist, illustrator and designer who specialises in traditional “pen and paper” methodologies. Outside of his art practice, Chris is an animator and designer who has produced work for some of Australia’s best-known brands and global entities including: VIVID Festival Sydney, Sony Australia, Samsung, The Opera House, Vans, Red Bull, Gelato Messina, Justin Bieber & Harley Davidson Motorcycles.
About CASS
CASS is a not-for-profit community organisation established in 1981. It provides a comprehensive range of social and welfare services to the multicultural communities, covering a wide geographical area including the Metropolitan Sydney and Wollongong. CASS serves people in the general community, especially those of East Asian background, including Chinese, Koreans, Indonesians, Vietnamese, etc. Every week, more than 3,300 families access its services and activities.