On Thursday, 6 August 2026, the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters officially unveils its fifth Quadrennial Public Artwork, a striking installation titled Rain, located on Osmond Terrace at the intersection of William Street.
Commissioned through the Council's Quadrennial Public Art Program, the sculpture was created by local art and design team Wills Projects, comprising artists Laura Wills and Will Cheesman.
Mayor Robert Bria will officially welcome Rain to the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters, at a special ceremony marking a major milestone in the Council's commitment to public art, urban enrichment and curation of the City's strong sense of place.
"Public art has the ability to transform our streets and public places," Mayor Robert Bria says.
"It invites us to pause, to look more closely, to question, and to see familiar places in new ways. It enriches our everyday lives and helps tell the stories that make our City unique — and Rain is a wonderful example of this.
"I congratulate Laura and Will on creating this incredible addition to our public artwork collection and extend my thanks on behalf of the Council for their creativity, vision and dedication.
"They have delivered a landmark artwork that will become part of the City's identity and further enhance our unique sense of place."
A tribute to nature and place
Inspired by the humble rain moth, Rain celebrates one of nature's often-overlooked inhabitants.
On behalf of Wills Projects, Laura Wills says, "The artwork explores the story of the rain moth, an amazing local story exploring temporality, fertility and connection to place, and we are pleased to be sharing it with the community."
The sculpture features striking wings that act as a canvas for local stories, featuring intricate, lace-like imagery woven into patterns of camouflage.
The installation provides an immersive experience; beneath the main sculpture, glowing caterpillars and a constellation of lights create a sense of simultaneously looking underground and into the night sky, encouraging curiosity and imagination.
"I hope everyone who encounters Rain, whether they are passing through the area, visiting for the first time or have lived here for decades, will discover something new each time they stop to look, and be inspired by the story of Rain," says Mayor Bria.
A collaborative vision
Laura says, "The quadrennial artwork commission has been a rewarding process. It has enabled us to assemble a skilled team of collaborators, and we've enjoyed realising our vision for the artwork, from concept phase through to delivery."
The project is the result of extensive collaboration between the Laura and Will and the many talented collaborators whose expertise has contributed to Rain.
"This includes an artistic partnership and Kaurna consultation with artist Violet Buckskin, author Jennifer Mills, filmmaker Tayla Stabile, and entomology experts from the South Australian Museum.
Investment in the Arts
The City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters is widely regarded as a leader in the public art space.
"The Council's Quadrennial Public Art Program realises one new major public art commission during each term of Council, with the first work, Spectrum, installed on Osmond Terrace in 2010 as an impressive entry statement to the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters," says Mayor Bria.
Under the Council's Public Art Policy, a total budget of $300,000 was allocated for this commission, including a $100,000 grant secured from CreateSA, through the Government of South Australia.
"The backing of the State Government through the provision of this significant and much appreciated grant represents a strong vote of confidence in the Council's ability to deliver impactful major public art."
A growing collection
Rain joins a prestigious collection of major public artworks in the City, including:
- Seed Mix (Hackney, 2022)
- Perpetual Sun (Stepney, 2018)
- Fallow (St Peters, 2014)
- Spectrum (Norwood, 2010).
