We commissioned artist Mark Cuthbertson to create this large-scale text-based public sculpture to celebrate members of our community who have a lived experience with disability. 

In drawing reference to powerful political and pop culture statements – such as the 1968 Memphis black sanitation workers slogan I AM A Man and Helen Reddy’s 1971 anthem I Am Woman – the work recognises the empowerment of diversity in our society.

Mark worked with artistic collaborators – Robert Croft Hannah Wilkinson Christian Den Besten and George Macaronis – as well as over 85 community members who contributed to the final design through a series of development workshops. 

The artwork stands over 2-metres tall and is created from white concrete. It features the curated text-based works of the contributing community members which have been inlaid into the side profile of each letter in the statement: I AM. 

The sculpture can be laid out in different ways in open space and is designed to be relocatable. This means it can be shifted around different sites within the municipality and made as widely accessible to the community as possible.

After originally being installed on the Geelong waterfront in September 2021 the sculpture was moved to its current home in Lara in March 2022.

To watch a documentary about the community members who helped shape the work and learn more about the project please visit the ArtGusto website.