Pioneer Women's Memorial Sculpture
Ola Cohn
Ola Cohn chose a three ton piece of Waikerie limestone from which she carved over a period of eighteen months the timeless figure of woman, as a memorial to celebrate the unsung lives of women pioneers. On completion of the work she felt compelled to defend her work in representing 'the spirit of womanhood capable of giving birth to a nation' against the criticism she received from the public for her coarse and unladylike rendition of the sculpted woman figure. Cohn herself was an adventurous and outward looking artist who undertook a career in sculpture when many would have feigned away from it. The minutes detailing the deliberations of the design committee are enclosed within the pedestal of the work, to be revealed in 2036, and the time capsule also contains messages for the women of the future. Learn more about the Pioneer Women's Memorial Garden.