Amanda was the City of Sydney Assistant Curator of Public Art for the Sydney Sculpture Walk program and other new artworks being commissioned as major City of Sydney initiatives in the lead up to the 2000 Olympic Games and 2001 Centenary of Federation.

Robyn's Backen's Archaeology of Bathing was a large scale installation of various constructed and found elements across Woolloomooloo Bay at the site of the former colonial Domain Baths for Ladies and previous to that an important Gadigal bathing site for women. The cage-like structure immersed in the harbour water referenced the unusual act of being immersed in the water fully clothed inside a ‘bathing machine’ that was necessary for modesty and to protect the colonial women from sharks and unwanted attention from men. The bright yellow marine buoys bobbed on the surface like heads in the baths.

The Sydney Sculpture Walk consists of ten permanent public artworks by international and Australian artists throughout Sydney's CBD, East Circular Quay, the Royal Botanic Gardens and The Domain. Amanda worked closely with esteemed Curator, Sally Couacaud and each of the artists to develop, project manage and realise the public art program that address historical and cultural aspects of the many high profile and beautiful sites throughout the CBD in which they are housed. Originally commissioned for 10 years, Archaeology of Bathing formed part of the City of Sydney’s Sydney Sculpture Walk and public art collection for nearly 20 years.

Images: City of Sydney