Communities within the Blue Mountains are a creative and resilient bunch who really know how to put their best skills on show and give back to their neighbourhoods. We had the pleasure of being able to capture some of the innovative ways, neighbours of all ages are banding together and supporting each other through different projects. From weaving to street galleries, get inspired with these beautiful creations and the people behind them.

Front Garden Gallery

"We live on a “walking path” where many people of Old Blaxland loop the five streets walking with their family, running on their own or walking their dog. With lockdown many children have joined the beat. Lockdown also meant that I started painting more prolifically. My art room and home were cluttered with my artwork. On one of my loops around the neighbourhood I spotted a wire guard up for offer for free. I dragged it home and it became an instant kerbside art gallery. I am a retired teacher, and I thought the artwork might prompt some art discussion between parents and children. But it went beyond that. A neighbour has added her artwork to the “gallery”… and people wanted to buy the artwork! Because of COVID, I put a price on each piece so people didn’t have to have contact me. They take their painting and drop the money in the letterbox. It has been so exciting, provided me an opportunity to share my work and providing others with a variety of art to view. Win win."

- Helen, Blaxland

Community Weaving Project

Creative friends and neighbours Kellie Stockton and Jane Aspinwall have lots of shares interests including growing food, cooking, creative projects and community.

During the spring 2021 lockdown and after great success from Kellie’s Camellia pattern project the season before they decided to create a community loom in their local area.

Kellie, Jane and her 3 children Jasmine 10, Barney 7 & River 3 all helped to build a weaving loom on their street corner in Springwood. They used 2 tomatoes stakes as uprights & 2 camellia branches as cross beams, jute as the warp (the vertical strings) and a wooden plaque was popped at the base inviting the community to take part… and that they did.

A beautiful creation emerged as the community embraced the challenge. A kaleidoscope of colours, textures and fibres were added including flowers, grasses, wools, felts, braided ribbons, seed pods, ferns, bark and balloons.

The community effort reflected the kind and colourful folk of the local area and in turn created happiness and a welcome boost to all who walked by.

This simple creative invitation wove neighbours, strangers & people of all ages literally together in one collaborative diverse artwork. A folk weaving as it were which is bursting with spirit, hope and most of all collaboration.”

- Jane and Kellie, Springwood

Street Library

“We started Little Bird Street Library back in 2019, hoping to share our love of reading with our neighbours and the local school communities. During lockdown, it’s been a constant source of connection with our community – with locals coming together to donate boxes upon boxes of books to meet the increased demand while libraries are closed and sharing puzzles, craft supplies and rocks for painting to lift our neighbourhood’s spirits. It’s a delight to see our regular visitors to the library, and those just wandering past, and to wonder what treasures they’ve found within.”

-Jasmine, Faulconbridge

Fairy Garden and Spoonville

"We made a fairy village to bring some magic into children's lives, just to make them smile and bring happiness in these crazy times. Also hopefully it encourages others to make them too <3"

-Kate, Faulconbridge

Street Pantry

“Woodford's community crop swap and street pantry was inspired by mid summer drives through the Northern Rivers and the ideas of Helena Norberg-Hodge, author of Local is our Future. Her work inspires a return to localisation, wherein communities and ecosystems flourish by valuing proximity, and people are happier and more connected through participation in a share economy. “

“This experiment started with a bucket of lemons about 6 months ago and now the shelves are full to bursting with freshly grown produce, home made jams and chutneys and spice rubs, bulbs, seedlings and excess pantry staples, replenished daily. The crop swap invited the community to 'leave what you can, take what you need' and It has certainly lifted the spirits of the neighbourhood during these strange times, encouraging others to start similar concepts in their parts of this vibrant little drive through town.”

-Brett, Woodford @sgtstch

Ephemeral Art Project

“There’s something very grounding about making an artwork that isn’t built to last. Something that captures a moment in time and space just for a little while. I have made a work from leaves in a park in the morning, and returned in the afternoon to find my artwork has blown away. I’ve made an artwork work in our yard from pebbles and we’ve skirted around it for days to make it last a bit longer. I’ve made an artwork from burnt bark down at the powerlines near my house, and been delighted to find my neighbour’s kids had added to it.”

“Every artwork is a bit different, but they are all reminders of impermanence. Beautiful things don’t last. Climate change, the pandemic, wedge politics... so many things feel tenuous and uncertain. Bleak, even. But we don't have to give in to that feeling if we take action. We can make something, we can connect with nature and each other, we can reduce stress and increase resilience and we can be part of a supportive community.”

- Julie, Blackheath

Find out more and participate in the project @everysevendays2021 and here.

Food Solutions, Corner stone

For over 5 years volunteer run charity Food Solutions have worked with Pastor Ian Bartley and his team at Cornerstone Community Care to provide weekly for approximately 60 to 80 people in need of food relief.

Over the last couple of months Pastor Ian has seen many people affected by covid restrictions and has been increasing the number Cornerstone Community Care are serving weekly to over 100.

The purpose of the Charity is to give out free food each week with no strings attached, to people of all ages and backgrounds, such as families, individuals, victims of domestic violence, people with mental illness and the homeless. There are many out in the community with Food Security issues.

The food is supplied by supermarkets and food bank, also through Christ Mission Possible: Penrith, plus local businesses each week and is Laid out on tables where people are served. The aim is to help people and reduce food waste, often if there is vegetables left over restaurants in Katoomba cook it into frozen meals for the following week.

Maja’s Verge Garden

“Being involved in a community garden in Newtown changed my life, I couldn’t get enough of the community connection and working together to make big projects fly. So we packed up city life and moved to Katoomba so I could garden to my hearts content. The first thing I did was start ripping out agapanthus to build a verge edible garden.

To me chatting with neighbours and passer- by is my favourite pastime, talking about the love of eating and growing food with other people fills my cup to the brim. My next project is starting a seed saving and sharing library. “

-Maja, Katoomba

Blue Mountains Neighbourhood Projects