Sculpture on the Edge - sculptures reflecting place

In one sense the Sculpture on the Edge Exhibition advertised in the flyer below is not really placemaking art in the purest sense but in a broader sense it is.

A bunch of Arts Connect and ArtSite artists (about 15 artists in all) are creating sculptural art for places. In the exhibition these art pieces will be in the Lucas Parklands garden and associated rain forest walk; but the art could also be just as well suited to public and community places.

The artists have accepted the challenge to create new works and installations (some ephemeral and some that can be moved to other locations) that reflect the forest and the special features of the forest walk. Many of the works will be comments on aspects of the place and aim to communicate that to visitors.

Understory - art and people create a place

The Understory project is really worth a look from the perspective of artists collaborating with community to create truly inspiring art and a sense of place in the natural environment. The few photos included here were taken when Fiona and I visited Understory August 2009.

The Understory website says: "Understory is a nationally unique art in nature experience that everyone can enjoy. Artworks are located along a 1.2km walk trail through pristine native forest. Sculptures, stories, poetry and music explore our relationship with nature and the 'spirit of place'."

"Understory was originally called the Southern Forest Sculpture Walk. It is managed by Southern Forest Arts - a 'not for profit' community cultural organisation.

Over 50 nationally and internationally renowned creative professionals have participated in the project since first established in November 2006. New artworks are added regularly to ensure there is always something fresh for visitors to experience.

Most people spend one hour to one and a half hours walking the trail and listening to a range of five audio tours (including interviews with participating artists, stories poetry and music). There are also audio tours especially for children and youth."

How is this for placemaking art?

Came across this project (Kaikai) and thought just what amazing things can be achieved when artists collaborate.

Also came across Community Arts Network South Australia and in regard to their placemaking project they said that "placemaking projects work on the belief that meaningful interactions can turn spaces we find ourselves in, into places we want to engage with."

Granite and earth - creating a place to pause and wonder

Located just behind the carpark next to the Maleny library is an installation titled ‘Coracle’, - two granite forms set into ripples of turf. They were commissioned by the Caloundra City Council and created by Peachester artists Hew Chee Fong and his partner L.M.Noonan in the year 2000.



“‘Coracle’ is simultaneously an installation and an earth sculpture. There is a deliberate collusion with its proposed surrounding landscape design. It will provoke or suggest in the mind of the viewer a vignette of a journey. A large, granite boulder is carved to the point that suggests rather than literally stating, that it is a boat. As with any object in water, there is a simulated resistance or wake effect carved into the surrounding grassed area. A question is posed, has this craft come ashore here or is it still plying its way? Another large boulder sits in splendid and compelling isolation. The top of this monolith is polished to provoke a sense of the passage of time and the ceaseless smoothing action of water. The earth surrounding it sculpted to imply yet another reaction caused by an object in water. This is in the form of rings, such as those produced when something such as a stone is dropped into a still or unmoving liquid body.

The installation invites physical interaction, the viewer wants to touch and sit upon the sculptures. The work also invites intellectual interaction. The metaphoric references to the journey are powerful. It could be a simple narrative, it could be concerning the journey each of us is making and it could be an appropriate reference to the journey we make when we begin our quest for knowledge.

The work is designed to both evolve out of its surroundings and devolve or merge back into them. It is not designed to be a memorial or function as an object based sculpture.”

Cows creating place in Maleny

Over the next little while ArtSite will feature existing placemaking-community art in the SSC Hinterland. We will do this as artists and other community members draw our attention to existing art; and hopefully provide us with a photo or two of the art.

Recently an installation of cows designed and developed by Janna Pameijer was officially opened. The installation is sited on the north eastern side of the bridge as one enters Maleny from Landsborough.

Photos courtesy of Gemma Black.

This installation was 3-4 years in the making from concept to opening. It demonstrates that placemaking art can take time; and requires a lot of patience and persistence. But in the end the long journey has been worth it – the artistic and statement aspects of the piece are top class. Like all placemaking art the installation is much more than beautifully designed and executed metal sculpture of cows –it is also about community, about people who are the backbone of the dairy industry; it is about Maleny as a producer of quality dairy products; it is about the history of the cattle sale yards on the bank of the Obi Obi etc.

Congratulations to Janna and her supporters for achieving such a great outcome; and creating another community piece of public art and talking point.