Canberra glass artist Lisa Cahill is creating a glass installation for the Manuka swimming pool to mark its 95th anniversary. Cahill, assisted by Oli Stephens, is working on the project close to home, having grown up in Canberra and brought her daughter to the pool since birth.
The artwork, commissioned by the Friends of Manuka Pool with a grant from Icon Water's community support program, will be placed on a garden border wall. It will capture the pool's social history through images set in glass and on tiles, arranged chronologically. Cahill plans to transfer photographs onto ceramic decals and print them on tiles, including original tiles from the pool, and sheets of glass.
The art deco pool officially opened on January 26, 1931. Cahill is seeking submissions from Canberrans of their own photos of visits to Manuka pool for possible inclusion. The artwork will be located on the northern side of the pool grounds, across from mosaics created for the pool's 75th anniversary by artist Kacy Grainger.
Friends of Manuka Pool is also planning a retro swim meet and talks to celebrate the anniversary. The new glass artwork is expected to be completed before the end of the summer swimming season in March. Photos can be sent to inso@lisacahill.com.
