Wendy Taylor B.Arch (Hons) studied Architecture at the University of Technology, Sydney, graduating in 1986 with honours. She has worked within the profession since 1989, collaborating with a number of architectural practices and on a variety of building types including the Sydney Olympic Stadium.

Wendy and Craig Taylor

Wendy established an architectural and design business with her husband, red blue architecture + design. They have designed several residential and commercial buildings, corporate displays, provided graphic design services and have been the designers of the Central District Exhibit* (See below) at the Sydney Royal Easter Show for the last 22 years. During this time the Central Districts Display has won both Best Display and the People’s Choice Award multiple times.

Wendy has worked as a mentor and judge in the Art4Agriculture successful high school educational program, the ‘Archibull Prize’ assisting teachers and students to understand how art and design can educate and inform, whilst opening the students to new levels of enthusiasm for learning and comprehending curriculum.

*The District Exhibit Displays are an iconic element of the Sydney Royal Easter Show. The displays are the culmination of the Agriculture competition of the Show. They are spectacular constructions of vegetables, fruit and other produce elements. These giant displays are a cooperative work by primary producers that reflect the diversity and excellence of their regional produce. Each display consists of more than 10,000 pieces of fresh produce from five agricultural districts throughout New South Wales and South East Queensland.

Archibull Prize Launch

The Sydney Royal Easter Show attracts more than 900,000 visitors every year and is often seen as the vehicle for ‘bringing the country to the city’. The District Exhibit displays provide a canvas upon which the rural sector is able to promote and educate the population whilst bringing about a greater awareness of the importance of primary production.

Bridging the Rural Urban Divide

The District Exhibit Displays are a 12 month exercise. The enormous array of produce that is exhibited on the displays is sourced from local competitions and from farmers within the District. Due to seasonal growing, the sourcing of produce is a constant effort. The design of the exhibit often begins before the previous show has finished. The actual work on the display can begin 6 months before the Easter Show opens. Months and months of work are required to produce the exhibits with up to 100 people being involved in its production. Often working bees are held in regional areas with up to 30 locals coming along for a weekend of hard work.

Bridging the Rural Urban Divide

The Design process involves the following stages of work;

1   Concept

1.1               Development of theme concepts,

1.2               Research of theme concepts,

1.3               Preparation of concept schematics for review, and

1.4               Selection of preferred theme.

2      Design Development

2.1               Development of preferred theme,

2.2               Preparation of scale model, where appropriate,

2.3               Resolution of construction methods, and

2.4               Selections of produce and estimations of quantities.

3      Construction

3.1               Organisation of working bees in regional centre,

3.2               Preparation of design elements,

3.3               Construction of staging for the display, and

3.4               Installation of produce onto the stage.