<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>341606</docID> <postdate>2025-04-02 10:03:21</postdate> <headline>Artist chosen as ‘Soup Kitchen Lady’ sculptor</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-341607" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Stasia-Dabrowski.jpeg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>The late StasiaDabrowski.</caption> <p><strong>Louise SkaÄej was named on Wednesday as the artist selected to create a public artwork honouring the late Stasia Dabrowski, Canberra’s Soup Kitchen Lady.</strong></p> <p>From 1982 Dabrowski ran a mobile soup kitchen from a corner of Garema Place, providing hot meals, bread, drinks and solace to those in need every Friday night.</p> <p>Arts Minister Michael Pettersson said the commission was part of an ongoing initiative to celebrate the legacy of significant Canberra women through the public art collection.</p> <p>SkaÄej’s is known for her diorama of the Battle of Kapyong, created with partner and studio manager Dean Colls and featured at the Australian War Memorial.</p> <p>She will now collaborate with Colls and studio assistants, Isabeau Colls and Mads Hillam, under the mentorship of legendary Australian sculptor, Peter Corlett.</p> <p>The sculpture will be installed in Garema Place in early 2026, close to the location of the original soup kitchen.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> </body>