Eudunda Silo Art - South Australia

Written by Artist Sam Brooks

Sam Brooks has now completed his commission on behalf of ECBaT: to create an "Identity" for Eudunda and to inspire, challenge and stimulate local tourism, as well as to develop a Public Art Project that is Creative, Artistic and Innovative. 

ECBaT believes that this has been achieved with this "spectacular" display.

The following comes from Sam's "pen": 

“Eudunda : The Storytime Silos”

Here it is. This massive, 30m tall, six-silo project came to end a few weeks ago, and I can’t wait to tell you all why I worked so damm hard to create this story for the town. I wanted to paint something that was more than just local history, but a piece that can hopefully impact culture on a broader scale.

My silo tells a story about two children, sharing stories about their past and their culture. These two children use these local books as a way to teach eachother about their history, culture and connections to the area. 

Famous local author, Colin Thiele, wrote Sun on the Stubble as he reflected about this area. The book talks about the hardships, farming community and day to day experiences of rural life in Eudunda. The young girl in my painting carefully steps through her magical book, experiencing cattle, sheepdogs and horseback riders as they travel through a golden dust storm. I wanted to present the kind of idealised snapshot of what it was like in the early days, as a child would envision it.

The Ngadjuri child steps through his own history, inviting the child on the other silo to come and learn about his culture. As if to playfully say “hey, come over here and learn about my culture too!” The Ngadjuri storybook, represented by stars and galaxies was a choice made in collaboration with local Elder, and Ngadjuri spokesperson Quentin Aegius. We decided that one single book is never enough to summarise such a HUGE part of history and culture.

I remember Quentin said to me “seeing our cultures side by side, sharing stories together is exactly as it should be.” He also commented, “i like how you used children to tell the story…Everyone is open as a child. A blank slate. Children don’t care about differences and they don’t judge. They are just open to experiences. In this painting I want people to see a place where there is no judgment or division, just two children playfully learning from one another.”

The Ngadjuri book can be seen as a summary of literature on the area - as it refers to the culture, customs, people and lifestyle that is present in the area today and was pulsing through the area long beyond the time of The Sun on The Stubble.

If you look closely at the stars - A local Ngadjuri story is hidden in there. Quentin noted the importance of this story to the area, and I like to think these side-by-side stories will transport the children (and the viewer) into a whole new world of unlimited mystery, intrigue and adventure.

Im aware that there is no way a single painting can completely capture a whole culture in all its significance and nuance, so I would invite any viewer of these silos to take a tour of the area with Quentin himself. I can’t think of a more accepting, kind and welcoming person to talk about such an important part of this area's history. You can find Quentin's tours at : Www.Ngadjuri.com.au

A lot of people asked me: What is the red rope there for?

Well! I took this red string from children’s cartoons I watched as a kid, they would always bring a little ball of red string to a new place - so they don’t get lost and can find their way back. I used it as a symbol and a storytelling element in my painting, as the images clipped to the string are unique stories and family heirlooms from the area. The string itself is like a passage through time, including elements from the local Laucke flour mills, Eudunda Farmers Co Op, and a local Dreamtime story about how the crow became so jet black.

The children use this historical string to engage their history, and experience their family heirlooms, as they playfully invite each other to explore new perspectives, stories and ideas about the land they live on.

My aim for this painting is to invoke feelings of playfulness, open mindedness and a joyful, child-like conversation about history and culture. It gave me a chance to visually represent the wonder of sharing knowledge between cultures - and the joy that can come from immersing yourself in the world of books.

I wanted to really push the limits of silo art and challenge myself to use the silos in a way that has never been done before. The wow factor of creating a realistic, 30 metre high book, is something that I hope will get people to visit the town in person.

As you walk through the town, you will see the actual artefacts that I used to inform my “historical red string” - the Laucke flour mill bag is in the bakery on the Main Street. The Eudunda farmers co-op building is refurbished and sitting right there on the main road. The Ngadjuri story about the eagle and the crow is a part of Quentin's guided tours of the area. 

I really aimed to knit the genuine history of the area into the painting, rather than a generic take on rural life, I wanted to go DEEP into what makes Eudunda, Eudunda.

Myself and Quentin collaborated together for the last 16 months and spoke regularly as I painted the silos. We were committed to using this opportunity as a way to tell a nuanced and history-rich painting about cultures coming together. 

Quentin was such an incredible help in ensuring everything was respectful, represented correctly and had all of the genuine cultural significance I could hope for. Getting Quentin's support and hearing his optimism for my vision was the greatest thing I could have hoped for. On the hard days, his encouragement and backing on this concept kept me going.

I really wanted to create a special feeling, that can’t be found anywhere else, on any other silo, I imagined the viewer being transported into another world, a world of these child-giants, where you are watching these 30 metre children interact with these huge objects that blur the lines between reality and painting. 

I hope you visit, take some awesome photos, visit the shops and go on a tour with Quentin 🙂

For some behind the scenes images, my Instagram is: Sambrooksartist