In April 2004 Alain Colfs was invited to conduct leadlight/mosaic workshops in the Diamantina Shire. A participant raised the idea that perhaps the local gibber stones could be used in a mosaic. In October 2004 Alain held a concept development 
workshop in Birdsville, which gave participants insight into the construction process of a mosaic using gibbers. This workshop generated enthusiasm in the community and it was decided to attempt a mosaic arts project for the town.
The community group was successful in acquiring funding through the Regional Arts Fund in addition to local sponsorship which made the project possible.
The Birdsville Gibber Mosaic Project was executed over a four week period in June/July 2005. With mosaic artists from Warwick (Qld), Alain & Kate Colfs, employed to plan and facilitate the project.
Workshops were run at the Birdsville Community Hall with the local community and visitors working with the artists to make each module.
Construction Method: To accentuate the motifs, they were cut out of glass. The process of making the modules is in reverse. First, the glass was laid, then the gibbers around it. With cement to bind everything together. The gibbers are from around Birdsville and the light colours are from sandstone from our local quarry. The darker hues are iron stone which lie on the gibber plains.
Two panels were completed – one was installed at the new health clinic in Birdsville, with the other installed at the Wirrarri Information Centre. The Clinic panel was designed by Alain and Kate Colfs and local artist, Wolfgang John. The Wirrarri Centre Panel was designed and executed by Fiona and Donella Gadsby of the Birdsville community.
Clinic Modules Interpretation (646 KB PDF)
Wirrarri Centre Modules Interpretation (804 KB PDF)
How is gibber formed [more info....] (174 KB PDF)
For a further information on Gibbers see ‘The Centre- The Natural History of Australia’s Desert Regions’, by Penny Van Oosterzee (1991).
Sponsors:
Regional Arts Fund, Diamantina Shire Council, Birdsville Caravan Park, Birdsville Hotel, Big Red Cafe, Wildash Glass Works, Hartley Williams Glass, QGAP
Photos courtesy of Alain & Kate Coifs
