The Path We Take

Artist
Frances Belle Parker

Client
Lendlease on behalf of New South Wales Health Infrastructure

Location
Tweed Valley Hospital

Year
2024

Medium
Digital illustration on glass and concrete base

Fabricators and partners
Cooling Brothers
Skyview Design & Build
Baigents Engineering
iAM Projects

This work by proud Yaegl woman Frances Belle Parker welcomes the community to Tweed Valley Hospital through a powerful acknowledgment of Bundjalung Country, its stories, and its people. It honours the healing nature of this place while ensuring the highest standards of durability, safety, and cultural integrity.

Grounded in the story of the Three Brothers, who traveled along the coast in their canoe, the artwork symbolises both their journey and the healing journey of those who seek care. The canoe’s form shapes the glass panels, while three stars shine above, representing their presence in the night sky. Rich ochre, deep blues, and vibrant greens reflect the land, waterways, and hinterland of Bundjalung Country.

Not only was this Frances’ first time working with Digiglass, but extensive material testing and consultation was required to meet the hospital’s strict safety protocols. The project involved coordinating multiple fabrication processes - glass produced in Perth, footings made in Melbourne - alongside complex logistics to deliver and install the work on a regional site. Specialist lifting companies were engaged to ensure safe placement after landscaping works.

Balancing artistic integrity with strict technical and cultural requirements, this project creates a welcoming and meaningful space for both the community and those on their path to healing.

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