The crowd of over 6000 people were in concert when they described this year’s exhibition as the best in the life of the event …. a stunning display of works, 33 in total. And to have 16 of the works sell is fantastic for the artists and the public.
This a selection of the works with my interpretation of their story.
This is my entry into SBB – Roll out the Barrel. A song that I remember my father and many others bursting out with when he tried his hands on the piano, something he had a natural gift at. The negative space signifies the age of the song, something in the past, …. tends to enable the viewer to imagine, dream, how was it all then. Jarrah and copper blend well together. I like to do the exaggerated muscle definition on figures. Enjoyed doing this piece.
Only the Ocean (Dale Bentley – Charlie Chop). Inspired by Mick Fanning’s battle with the shark. The scale is spot on, and the posture imposing and positive. I love the position in the landscape and the way the light bounces through the torso. The construction looks light but strong and balanced. Excellent piece that should grace a point overlooking a surf break.
Two pieces … Dingo by the Bay and Free.Dingo is by Chris Latham is a very effective statement that dingos used to wander these parts of the south-west and now have been forced into the arid areas by urbanisation etc. The dingo has arid colours on the inland side and ocean colours the other. I can envisage it in a sculpture park. Free (Christian Farrell) on the ocean is what people envisage happening on holidays in places as Dunsborough …. relaxing, blissful, getting away, lost.
Tidal Totems (Merle Davis) – a colourful, interactive (Jenny Clark and Chris Latham), engaging work made from abandoned synthetic fishing rope, nets, plastics and floats salvaged from the ocean. Left in the ocean it tangles with the environment to cause death and disaster.
A Succulent Piece of Fish (Scott Michell) – a joyful play on words, and a magnificent garden piece. I know it is now positioned in a front garden at Yallingup and will continue to grow in itself and on the owners. A lovely ornament.
Alma (Deborah Campbell). A skirt made from pressed tin is very effective to tell the story of pioneer women, and a fabulous way of recycling what was someones ceiling or wall. From all directions this piece has shape and style.
Woven Reflections (Emma Headley). Looking initially at this piece you don’t see that the main component is aluminium soft drink cans cut into strips. The colours achieved and the reflection on the mirror, plus the square sections of aviary wire, has the mind conjuring up a range of images from freeways to high rise metropolis. I’m a fan!
Return to Gaia (Daniel Fisher). Evokes a lot of emotions …. Avatar, searching for a life, treading carefully, despair, reaching out. I can imagine this was a very emotional piece to make. The spoons are very effective as leaves.
Cocoon (Sue Smorthwaite), felted wool. It would be fascinating to put this work into a public art environment to see how nature would interact with it ….. and how it would interact with nature, would it keep it’s colour, shape? A medium not often considered for public art, but perhaps we should!
Bush Buddies go to the Beach (Lily Mercer), stoneware ceramics. This is Edwina the emu, a joyful interacting work that can go indoors or in the garden. Once you meet Lily one realises where the character of her pieces come from, bubbly, vivacious, smiling, out there.
These are but a few of the works that were exhibited at this years Sculpture By The Bay, Dunsborough, Western Australia, Australia. For all photos of the exhibits look at facebook Sculpture by the Bay.
greg banfield 