Four people stand smiling in front of bright blue and and indigenous mural painted wall.

Members involved with the mural from the Harrison School and artist Eddie Langford. (L to R: Anita Sutherland, Savannah Taylor, Eddie Longford and Benjamin Davies)

01 February 2023

A local indigenous artist has made his mark on Harrison School, bringing the school’s spirit to life through a meaningful mural.

Working with students from Harrison School, indigenous artist Eddie Longford has painted an artwork incorporating elements that were important to the school community. The centre circle of the mural represents the school’s campus surrounded by its natural environment, with the mountain range behind the school, as well as gum trees and kangaroos.

The five circle designs represent the significant grinding stone sites within the Gungahlin region, while the colour blue represents the community and their connection to the school. Also included in the artwork is the eagle, or Mulleun, the Ngunnawal totem with the school’s colours of blue and red also represented.

“I was contacted by Harrison School about doing a mural and met with the staff who showed me the ideas that the students had drawn and designed,” artist Eddie Longford said.

“The students had already incorporated some of the traditional Ngunnawal elements, I then added some of the more specific features surrounding the school such as the grinding stone sites in the Gungahlin area.

“The school allowed me the freedom to showcase what I could do, incorporating street art with traditional and contemporary indigenous style. I’m really happy with how it has turned out.”

Red, grey circle surrounded by blue U-shaped elements at the centre of the mural
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Close up of Kangaroos featured on mural. They are black, white and red in colour with indigenous dots and lines.
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Eagle or Mulleun depicted on the mural. It has red, black and white indigenous markings.
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Wide photograph of the entire mural with all elements shown.
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Close up of Eddie Longford's mark on the mural. It spells out his name with the outline of the Australian aboriginal flag.
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More of Eddie Longford’s art can be viewed on his Instagram profile.

To find out more about the Harrison School, please visit the school’s website.


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