David Booth, 'It's a home to me', 2024, acrylic paint.
David Booth, 'It's a home to me', 2024, acrylic paint.
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It’s a home to me: David Booth

31 August 2024 - 3 September 2029

Curator:

Artist(s): David Booth

Location: Cooper Street Community Centre, 101 Cooper Street, Essendon

It’s a home to me is a public art project that celebrates the unique character of Cooper Street Community Centre in Essendon and the vibrant community it serves. Rooted in the belief that 'drawing is magic', artist David Booth brings together a colourful patchwork of characters—from a dog walker along the river and a lorikeet soaring mid-flight, to a person grounded in meditation and a rhythmic gymnast casting their ribbon high in the sky.

The mural’s design weaves together narratives that reflect the Centre’s diverse activities, including gymnastics, yoga, meditation, kids' ballet, and karate. Drawing inspiration from the surrounding sports fields, local wildlife, and the nearby suburbs of Aberfeldie and Moonee Ponds, the artwork captures a snapshot of the neighbourhood. Its layered elements invite new discoveries with each visit, unified by a blue band symbolising the Maribyrnong River—a vital waterway in the northwestern suburbs that sustains native fauna and has become a recreational hub for Moonee Valley residents and visitors alike.

Reflecting on the work, David shared, “My hope is that users of the facility, and the parks and playfields that flank it, feel a sense of pride and ownership in the work—a piece that offers a visual break from everyday life, provides respite, encourages reflection, and offers a place to daydream, while hinting at the activities housed within this community centre.”

With special thanks to members of the Moonee Valley YMCA Gymnastics Club and the residents of MVCC for their participation in the co-design workshops, which helped realise this artwork. This project is an initiative of Igniting Creativity 23-27, Moonee Valley City Council’s Arts and Culture Strategy.