Vignette 104: Reconciliation Touchstone

The Reconciliation Touchstone was created as a visual symbol of commitment to our reconciliation journey and stands as a testament to our support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through education.

The 3 m high granite structure was created by First Nations artist Karen Casey and public sculptor Darryl Cowie. The artists were inspired by the notion of the space held within a handshake and how the process captures united intention, communication, and connection between two people.

As part of Reconciliation Week in 2006 a public event was held, inviting people to shake hands while holding wet plaster between their hands and to make conversation until it hardened. The handshakes were later used to form the mould for the cast granite sculpture named the Reconciliation Touchstone. The inside space of the sculpture captures the imprints of those 64 handshakes.

It was unveiled on 1 June 2007 and includes a time capsule. It has pride of place, located among the University’s most prestigious buildings, and was designed to be clearly visible to all from North Terrace.

The University of Adelaide: 150 Years of Making History.  Providing a place. p.143