Article: New CityCat a floating canvas

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

New CityCat a floating canvas

New CityCat a floating canvas
TONY MOORE
July 2, 2010 - 5:52AM

Brisbane's newest CityCat is certainly a head-turner.

Launched yesterday, the Gootcha is emblazoned with the striking artwork of award-winning Brisbane artist Judy Watson.

Ms Watson's 1998 artwork Shoal is the design that covers Brisbane's brand new CityCat, the 16th in the fleet.
The latest addition to the CityCat fleet.

Unique in Brisbane's CityCat fleet, the Gootcha's artwork represents the sun dancing on the water currents, fish nets and fish scales.

Ms Watson was not at yesterday's launch, however Brisbane elders Valda Coolwell and Joe Kirk spoke of Brisbane's need to recognise the indigenous cultural ties with the river.

Gootcha is the indigenous name for Toowong and Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said it had been a long standing practice to use indigenous names to the CityCats.

"Today gives us the opportunity to honour an Aboriginal artist who has made a great contribution to Queensland," he said.

The addition of the 16th CityCat means for the first time there will be a CityCat every 12 to 13 minutes in the morning peak period for upstream terminals.

In the afternoon period, a CityCat will run every six to seven minutes between the Apollo Road and Riverside ferry terminals.

Downstream, it will allow one extra service from the busy University of Queensland ferry stop in the afternoon peak, adding a service between the existing 5.07pm and 5.37pm services.

The number of passengers on CityCats has increased by 93 per cent since June 2004, with the Council planning on boosting the number of City Cats to 19 by 2012.

Cr Newman said he expected the 17th CityCat to be on the water before Christmas.

Ms Watson won the 1995 Moet and Chandon Fellowship, the National Gallery of Victoria's Clemenger Award in 2006, represented Australia at the 1997 Venice Biennale

[Golliwog]

I like it (pic at the Brisbanetimes website). They should do more things like this, not just with the CityCats but with trains nad buses too.