The REZZA + VOIR project is a celebration of Reservoir's diverse community. This public art project develops a participatory story wall that will explore connection to place in the community of Reservoir and a linking of the two laneways between Edwardes Street and Spring Street.

As part of the project, the two laneways have been temporarily named Rezza Boulevard and Voir Lane. Over the duration of the project, local artist Sarah Rudledge will develop different ‘chapters’ of the story wall with themes such as trade and gardening.

The project kicked off with Chapter 1: Making it in Rezza - an exploration of running a small business in Reservoir or selling things that are made or crafted by hand locally.

This was followed by Chapter 2: Spring and Summer Gardens, where Sarah worked alongside residents from the East Reservoir Strathmerton Street apartments to create a series of handmade garden portraits. The works were made from local flora from the Darebin Creek, flowers from the resident’s gardens.

A big thank you to all those who have contributed to these chapters!

Upcoming Chapter 3: Living in Strange Times

In the next and final chapter of the Rezza+’Voir Laneways public art project we invite you to take part in the art. As we all begin to consider life after the COVID-19 restrictions we want to know: what’s getting you through these strange times? From the simple to the grand, in one or two sentences, we’d love to hear who or what’s helped you cope, and hey, perhaps even made you smile.

Your contributions will be made into posters and accompanied by young local artists’ work in the two laneways adjacent to Edwardes and Spring Street. The installation will brighten up the laneways and offer some hope for the coming spring and summer period.

Contribute your stories to Chapter 3: Living in Strange Times in the ‘Share your stories’ section below or send an email to the City Design Unit at city.design@darebin.vic.gov.au.

Share your thoughts!

If you would like to make a general comment about the project, please drop us a line in the ‘Share your thoughts’ section.

Stay Informed!

Click on the subscribe button to be kept informed of the progress of this project and when new artwork is installed in the laneways! Photos and videos will be uploaded as the project progresses.

Project Background

This project is an action of the Reservoir Streetscape Masterplan 2014(External link). The Masterplan identifies the Reservoir Retail Activity Centre’s existing network of laneways as the ‘forgotten spaces in between buildings’. The Masterplan recognises the opportunity to activate these laneways through changes to the public realm including restricting vehicular access to sections of the laneways, improving the laneways’ amenity, lighting and overall perception of safety through the introduction of public art. For more information, you can download a copy of the Reservoir Streetscape Masterplan and the Reservoir Identity Study from the Document Library section.