Bondi Beach residents, families and visitors are helping shape a commemorative artwork, with thousands of handmade clay vessels set to become a field of lights at Archer Park ahead of the first anniversary of the Bondi Beach terrorist attack.
Known as Sharing Light, the temporary installation will bring together 5,000 individually crafted vessels, each holding a solar-powered light. The display is planned to illuminate the park from sundown on 4 December 2026, ahead of the anniversary of the attack on 14 December 2025, when 15 people were killed and dozens more injured during Chanukah by the Sea.
A Shared Effort, One Vessel At A Time
At Bondi Pavilion, people of different ages and backgrounds have been working with clay, contributing individual pieces to an artwork that will eventually fill a nearby park. The drop-in workshops, held from 1 to 7 October, welcomed everyone from experienced potters to people handling clay for the first time. Residents worked alongside visitors and volunteers, with each participant helping to build the installation one vessel at a time.
Among the participants was Iranian-born Bondi resident Joseph Sali, who works professionally with lighting. While shaping his vessel with assistance from a volunteer, he spoke about the value of people coming together and his belief that light has the power to overcome darkness.
Participation is expected to extend well beyond the initial workshops, with more than 100 community groups, including schools and nursing homes, set to contribute. The project began with a collective of Jewish and non-Jewish artists who wanted to involve the wider community in creating a shared commemorative work. The organisers have emphasised that the process of making the vessels is as much a part of the artwork as the finished installation.
Thousands of Hands Behind The Lights
Each vessel will retain its individual handmade form when arranged with thousands of others across Archer Park. As daylight fades, the solar-powered lights will illuminate the installation, creating a public space where people can gather and remember those affected by the attack.
Mr Steven Lewis has welcomed the collective effort, describing the activity as a means of bringing people together through grief, reflection and solidarity. He has encouraged more people to take part in making a vessel for the December display.
The volunteer-run artwork is supported by Waverley Council through its Local Creative Collaborations program, alongside the NSW Government, Multicultural NSW and several community and cultural organisations.
Much of the project is being financed through philanthropic contributions, with fundraising continuing to cover materials, site infrastructure, security and volunteer coordination. The temporary artwork is separate from the permanent memorial being developed by the NSW Government and other stakeholders.
The initial Bondi Pavilion workshops have concluded, but the organisers plan to continue vessel-making sessions through December, leaving further opportunities for people to contribute to the 5,000-piece installation. Information about upcoming workshops and participation is available through the organisers at sharinglight2026@gmail.com.
Published 5-October-2026
