art4place

Sunday, June 20, 2021

Six years on - still standing strong - peace in the trees

In 2015 thirteen carved stone monoliths were installed on the Maleny Trail pathway on a section that runs parallel to the Obi Obi Creek from near the Riverside Shopping Centre to the creek near the Lighthorse pavilion. The sculptures are installed along a section that is wide cement path that enables all people, including those in chairs or walkers, to see and reflect on the pieces.

The sculptures were created by 13 non-sculpture artists who volunteered to carve the pieces under the guidance of Craig Medson. Part of the story is recorded on the signage below. The Peace in the Trees Sculpture walk was opened in September 2015.

Six years on the Sunshine Coast Council arranged to have the works cleaned and sealed - thanks to Fiona McCarron, Edith-Ann Murray and Julie Hauritz (SCC).

The works have nestled into the landscape - settled in amongst the trees and plants as they were designed to do.

A few photos of the cleaned works follow.

Creating Peace - Michael Givinchy

Solace - Kim Morland

Maleny Platypus - Cathy Lawley

Reflection - Judy Gardiner

Thought - Vivienne Bennet

Choice - Sally Fisher

Be still and let the peace of this place wash over you - Ken Munsie

Quandong - Edith-Ann Murray

Reptilian - Emma McDonald

Heartfelt - Carolyn Sheather

In a word peace - Katie White

Shh.... James Crowther

Imagine Peace - Barry Smith

Many people who walk the pathway comment on how it lifts them to catch glimpses of the monoliths. Finding peace on the pathway and amongst the trees.

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

A few more photos

It probably doesn't hurt to share a few more photos of the community participation in the official opening of the Peace in the Trees Sculptural walk?

An earlier Art4place blog post provides a good over of the journey of the creation and installation of the Peace in the Trees sculptures.

The official ribbon spanning Judy Gardiner's piece - Reflection.

The official opening was about celebrating the achievement of a piece of community art that recognised the contribution of community to its creation including: the artists; Sunshine Coast Council; local service groups, organisations and businesses; and the art installers. They were all invited to celebrate the contribution they had made to this community art.

Getting the official stuff underway (Cr McKay, Julie Hauritz and Barry Smith) - like the colour coordination.

Few shots of the community gathering

The magic moment - the ribbon is cut - the walk is open.

Couple of photos of nine of the artists who were present.

Big thanks to all the artists: Kim Moreland, Vivienne Bennett, Katie White, Ken Munsie, Michael Givenchy, Cathy Lawley, Carolyn Sheather, Edith-Ann Murray, James Crowther, Judy Gardinder, Sally Fisher, Emma McDonald, Barry Smith, Craig Medson; and after Craig's death, Wayne Markwort.

Ably supported by other Art4place committee members foreground and to the right!!!

Feedback suggests that many people find the walk an uplifting experience.

Peace in the Trees in the news

Just thought we would share a few cuttings from the Glasshouse Country and Maleny News celebrating the opening of the Peace in the Trees Scupltural walk at the beginning of September 2015. Big thank you to Cr Jenny McKay for doing the honours of officially opening the walk.

Great to see various groups represented Rotary and Maleny Visitor Information Centre); and also grand that families and friends of the artists came to the opening and participated in planting some Lomandras and joining in the celebratory sausage sizzle.

Thursday, July 23, 2015

The Peace in the Trees Sculptural Walk journey

The Peace in the Trees Sculptural Walk on the the Riverside Centre (town centre) end of the Maleny Trail (officially opened on 22 July) started its journey in 2012 as part of Art4place's Creative Spaces 2012. Craig Medson began the journey by securing and breaking Helidon sandstone (see above) in the shed at Maleny Retreat (thanks Maria and Wendy); and gently and expertly guiding 12 local artists in the creating of peace and environmental stone sculptures (check out the link and see photos below).

Earlier this year (2015) Art4place were granted funds by the Sunshine Coast Council to hire Wayne Markwort to again work with the local artists to fines the works so that the could become part of the SCC's public art collection; and be installed on the Maleny Trail on the Maleny Precinct. The artists were pleased that another experienced local stone sculptor was able to assist them to add to their works two years on.

Over a 12 month period Art4place has worked with Cllr Jenny McKay and Council art staff Ant McKenna and Julie Hauritz to transfer ownership of the sculptures to the SCC; and install them on the Maleny Trail walk.

There have been many many steps in the installation process. A big thank you to the installation team - mainly Rhyce Skodnik and Edith-Ann doing 'the heavy lifting' etc.

Selecting the location for each piece.

Soil testing and drawing engineered footings.

Transporting the works from Maleny Retreat to the precinct.

Digging footing holes and surrounding them with security barriers.

Pouring the punch pads - foundations with reinforced steel.

Drilling the pieces and inserting reinforcing steel; craning the pieces into place; levelling them; and securing them.

Pouring the concrete footings and trowelling it smooth.

Covering the concrete footings with crushed sandstone.

And adding the signs to the individual pieces and the main story boards

The installation is complete. The next blog will feature all the pieces in place. And the journey will be complete when the Peace in the Trees Sculptural Walk is officially opened on 2 September 2015.

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