Rekindling the Spirit: Indigenous Totems in Reclaimed Steel

Bringing the Totems Into Steel

Formal approval was granted by the Widjabul Wia-bal Gurrumbil Aboriginal Corporation for its artwork to be incorporated into the totem designs at the building entrance.

Our role was to bring these designs to life in reclaimed steel across seven sculptural bollards.

What began as seven bollards representing seven family totems developed into a much more detailed artwork incorporating 15 family totem elements across the seven pieces. With each element carrying its own significance, it was incredibly important that the original designs were treated with care and accurately represented.

A Different Approach to the Making

We normally plasma cut our artwork entirely freehand. There is no computer cutting, laser cutting or automated machinery involved – just the plasma torch guided by hand in our Bend of Islands workshop.

This project, however, called for a slightly different approach.

Because we had been entrusted to recreate Indigenous artwork and family totems, it was essential that every element remained true to the original designs. For the first time, we used templates to guide our hand cutting, giving us the accuracy required while keeping the making process firmly by hand.

With so many individual elements needing to work together, we also engaged Cordial Creative to undertake the detailed setout. Their work was enormously important in allowing the imagery to flow across all seven bollards as one connected artwork, while retaining the integrity of each individual totem.

Every line was then plasma cut by hand into reclaimed steel in our workshop.

A Place of Connection and Belonging

The story behind the Wellbeing Centre makes this project particularly special.

The architectural concept draws upon the area’s long history as a place of gathering, ceremony and connection, including the nearby Bora Ring and the stories associated with the surrounding Country. The centre brings several sites together to create a cohesive place of belonging for the community, with its design intended to carry these stories forward for generations.

The project has also formed part of the recovery following the devastating 2022 floods. Funding was provided by the State and Federal Governments through the Aboriginal Owned Assets Program, under the Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Package, supporting the repair, restoration and betterment of flood-damaged Aboriginal-owned community infrastructure.

A Privilege to Create

Being trusted to translate artwork carrying this level of cultural and community significance into steel has been a genuine privilege and a responsibility we have taken very seriously.

It has also been a fascinating project for us as makers, requiring a different way of working while remaining true to the hands-on methods at the heart of Tread Sculptures: reclaimed materials, careful craftsmanship and every line cut by hand.

Watch this reel to see a closer look at the making process and the work behind these very special pieces.

Looking Ahead

The next chapter for these pieces will be seeing them installed at the Rekindling the Spirit Wellbeing Centre in Lismore, where they will become part of the everyday life of the centre and the community it serves.

After spending so much time with each piece in the workshop, we’re looking forward to seeing all seven bollards together in their intended setting and the complete artwork taking its place within the broader design of the centre.

We’ll be adding photographs here once the installation is complete, sharing the finished totems in their new home.