Summary

Tapestry panel titled 'Celebrations 2001', designed by Sydney artist Martin Sharp. It is the tenth panel of ten in the Federation Tapestry Suite woven by the Victorian Tapestry Workshop (known as the Australian Tapestry Workshop since 2010), to mark the Centenary of Federation in 2001.

This panel represents Australia as it is now. Since the 1960s Sharp has made significant contributions to Australian culture as a pop artist with his posters and record covers. The dominant image is of the word 'Eternity' which Sharp has taken from a sentence in Patrick White's novel 'Riders in the Chariot'. Sharp knew and admired the author and also has a long-standing interest in Arthur Stace, a recluse who scripted the word 'eternity' in chalk on Sydney pavements over sixty years ago. Sharp also paid homage to Ginger Riley through the inclusion of a small version of 'Ngak Ngak in Limmen Bight River Country'. The word 'Sorry' written in the sky above the Opera House was taken from a photographic image from the Sydney reconciliation march held in 2000. In the background is a panorama of First Fleet sailing ships.

Physical Description

Rectangular tapestry featuring as its centrepiece a red map of Australia on which the word 'Eternity' is printed in yellow with four white stars, against a blue background. Surrounding the map are images of ships with white sails, the Sydney Opera House and a small version of Ginger Riley's 'Ngak Ngak in Limmen Bight River Country'. The word 'Sorry' is written above the Opera House. Text in red on yellow background in the upper left and lower right corners.

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