5000 poppies

The 5000 Poppies project is an amazing public artwork that will transform Federation Square in Melbourne on ANZAC Day 2015.  Between 2014 and 2018 Australia will commemorate the ANZAC Centenary, marking 100 years since Australia’s involvement in the First World War.

5000 Poppies started as grass roots project to pay tribute to and respect Australian servicemen and women for more than a century of service in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.  The project has grown dramatically since inception and will now be a staggering 800m2 in size.

The award winning landscape designer, Phillip Johnson has come on board to assist in developing the design for the hundred of thousand poppies contributed for the project.

I am in total awe of the women who created this project.  Even though the project has grown to a size they never dreamed of, they still treat each handmade poppy, most of which are dedicated to loved ones, with care and respect.  They value and cherish the many volunteers who are piecing the work together and the countless participants who have contributed to this project.  You can see some of the love here.

It is hoped the piece will tour after ANZAC Day and that it will be gifted to the Australian War Memorial for all Australians to enjoy.

In 2010 I made a single poppy and placed it in federation square on Remembrance Ray.  For 5000 Poppies I made another single poppy just like it to join the field of poppies in Federation Sqaure for ANZAC Day 2015.  If I can find it in the field there may be another post about this project.