This consultation is now closed. Feedback from the community was used to inform the artist’s brief for the replacement artwork.

Artists Suzie Bleach and Andy Townsend were chosen to create a new sculpture that meets the community’s wish for an artwork that is nostalgic, imaginative and playful.

Read the Community Consultation Report for a detail look at what the community said.

How you had YourSay:

The community was asked what Stepping Out – the much-loved bronze sculpture at Hughes Shops – meant to them and what they value and enjoy about the Hughes community. The themes from the consultation informed the artist’s brief for a replacement artwork at the Hughes shops.

The community had their say from 31 July to 11 September 2017 by:

• Taking an online or hardcopy survey
• Commenting on an online map
• Having a chat face-to-face at Hughes Shops 22 and 26 August

Submissions from the community on YourSay and face-to-face in 2017 found the top four qualities that people would like to see in the replacement artwork were:

• playful
• interactive
• nostalgic
• imaginative

The community also wanted the replacement artwork to include materials such as:

• concrete
• steel
• recycled goods

What we looked at:

Public artwork is a fundamental part of cultural life in Canberra, and each piece becomes part of our community.

When the much-loved bronze sculpture Stepping Out by Giovanna Ianniello and Gerard Murphy, originally installed at Hughes shops in 1997, was stolen in 2016, the local community was devastated. Many people said it was like losing a loved one, she was such a part of the community.

Stepping Out was unable to be recast as the moulds no longer exist, so a community consultation with Hughes residents was undertaken in from 31 July to 11 September 2017 to identify what the community felt would be a suitable replacement for the beloved Lady in Pearls.

How we used your views:

The themes from the consultation informed the artist’s brief for a replacement artwork at the Hughes shops with Artists Suzie Bleach and Andy Townsend being chosen to create the new sculpture.

The design by Bleach and Townsend meets the community’s wish for an artwork that is nostalgic, imaginative and playful. The new artwork is a female figure that nostalgically references the previous artwork ‘Stepping Out’ by celebrating all women rather than a particular individual. Playful interaction with the new sculpture will be invited such as dressing the figure in response to seasons or special events. The artists suggest such offerings from the community may include a scarf in winter or a summer hat. The consultation report also notes that Hughes residents have a strong sense of connection to their natural surroundings, represented in the artwork by the nurturing female figure cradling a large bird.

The new artwork will be developed over the coming months and is expected to be installed in early-2019. It will feature reinforced footings and fixings to mitigate against theft.

Project updates:

For updates on the sculpture you can visit artsACT or check out the Hughes Shops in the first half of 2019 and see the sculpture being installed.