Chris Nixon has enjoyed a lifelong connection with Willetton and it is this link that helped him to develop a concept that is colourful, playful, bold and abstract for his proposed artworks. He said that growing up, attending school and paying basketball made him extremely familiar with the diverse and rich community that epitomises the Sports Precinct at Willetton and added:
“Inspired by the contours of the Paperbark tree, I’ve used abstract lines to re-imagine the site in its natural state and balance this with abstract shapes and patterns to represent the movement of sport."
He said his research included discussions with indigenous leader in the local area Dr Richard Walley who emphasised the site's early importance as a seasonal swampland as well as the paperbark trees significance.
Artwork, such as the works proposed for the sports precinct, often become important local attractions included in brochure printing campaigns aimed at locals and visitors.
The talented artist will combine his own ideas with input from school students to come up with the final artistic concept which is expected to be enacted by May 2021.
Works will include a Willetton Stadium mural and a streetscape on the paving between an active laneway and the stadium. Safety screens as part of the new skate plaza together with featured sculptors and integrated lighting are also proposed.