Sculpture by the Sea III...

Here we are again on Cottesloe beach, you're getting to know it quite well by now aren't you.. would love it if you kept embiggening :)  First a sculpture in bronze by Iraqi born WA artist Ayad Alqaragholli. Like all of his work 'Embrace' has that je ne sais quoi, that wonderful feel of light and gay abandon. His work documents 'what he sees in daily life, paying homage to the importance of the figure in art history'. I feel that this artist has a very lovely outlook on life!

Above the delightful installation called 'Fetch' by Melbourne based duo The Winged Collective.. created in mirrored alucobond, the artist's statement 'they wait for you, ever poised and ever ready to have a stick thrown..their surface reflects the playful nature of those around them'. I really like this one and it's purely by coincidence that this shot included two hunky chaps in the background..really :)

Above, 'Red Centre' by USA artist Carl Billingsley.. composed of red and yellow survey flags the  meaning 'to experience the immediate.. it is ephemeral, sensory, formal, discrete, finite, specific, geometric, mutable, illusory, positive and free'.. you'll get a better overall look at how this piece sits on the beach in weekend reflections.....

'Sea Change' above by WA Artist Tim McFarlane Reid, a combination of corten steel, marine ply and aluminum sits looking over it's fellow sculptures on the beach from the grassy slopes.. 'when moving in a new direction we draw on our past to create a new present.. this shift or change opens up all sorts of new possibilities'.. something to look forward to n'est pas!

If bugs creep you out you may experience a bwaaah shudder :) as you pass 'Insectopia' by WA artist Maria Hildrick.. made up of wire, card, paper pulp, glue, India ink, enamel paint and marine varnish it really is quite beautiful. The artist 'is concerned about how we construct our sense of self, looking to animal and insect communities to explore ideas surrounding belonging, collective behavior and identity'..

Wouldn't you want to reach out and touch this sensuously smooth bronze sculpture above by South Korean artist Seung-Hwan Kim. Called 'Organism'.. the artist explores 'themes of eternity and the organic form in flora and fauna', this work refers to the concept of eternal regression'...

Anyone who has traveled in the Australian outback or worked in a mining town will know what a 'donga' is.. the donga above, more of a beach shack, called 'Our Place' by WA artist Olga Cironis an Australian installation and multidisciplinary artist who explores the link between identity and place by questioning and re-evaluating the impact of history on personal and cultural identity'. Looked right at home here on the pier end of the beach! See the photographer below.. well that's where I ventured, bare footed, slippery rocks, to take the shots I'll show you tomorrow.. life and limb I tell you :) Hope your week is progressing well, take care.....p.s. there was no rain.. 101 days and counting! p.p.s catch up today...

Changing skyline.....!

When you look across the Swan River from South Perth to the city this is the view.. but see that pile of destruction construction on the foreshore, well that's going to change everything. It'll be a few years yet before we see how Elizabeth Quay changes the skyline of Perth.. I would have preferred lawns rolling down to the foreshore, family friendly cafes, jetty's where boats could adjourn from their travels up the river.. all that is there already, but surely this is a case of more is never enough. I hope that also applies to the sculptures by the sea because.. there's more tomorrow :). Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe....p.s. yesterday was our 100th day without rain, but that could change today!

Sculptures by the Sea II.....

Here we are back on the beach at Cottesloe for this years Sculptures by the Sea (please make them bigger) and I seem to remember for last years show the sky was also moody and threatening, only last time it did rain, not so lucky on Saturday!  I started at the top end of the beach walking down towards the pier so will keep on that path today. Made of cast marble and solar panels 'Solar Jayne' above by WA artist Geoffrey Drake-Brockman is a 'solar activated kinetic sculpture based on a body mould of Jayne Smeulders, principle dancer WA Ballet, this one was a favourite with the young girls as she slowly turned with the sun.....

There is a strong environmental theme to this years show.. the piece above titled 'Plastic World' by Carole Purnelle and Nuno May from Portugal representing 'a planet entirely built with plastic rubbish from the planet's oceans, representing the ecological footprint of all the countries of the world'.

Above 'Gift of the Rhinoceros' created in polypropylene fibre and aluminium by WA artist Mikaela Castledine. An Attenborough Impresario.. televised natural history programs have replaced the impresario, who once brought the wonders of the world for us to marvel at and be inspired'...

 'Offshore Trading' by NSW artist Flossie Pietsch above. One tonne bulka bags, paint and beach sand.. the statement being 'beach sand from Canada? Absurd, yet it could be true'. Well I say fruit maybe, and I don't agree with that.. but sand never :)

I can't imagine how long it took to put together the more than many plastic lids, cable ties and plastic bottles that pull together to make 'Over Consumption' by WA's Kerrie Argent, representing 'the threat we face by the mountains of floating rubbish. Five great garbage patches, more every day'. It did amuse me that the local who strolled up and put his towel down beside this piece didn't give it a glance before heading down for his daily swim regardless of all the weird and wonderful things on his beach :)

Again the environmental message from WA artist Richie Kuhaupt with his 'Norfolk Pine' sculpture. Made with pine pallets and pine tree he tells it like this.. 'a Norfolk Pine was cut down in his neighbourhood to make way for a housing development, a few days later, building materials appeared on the block strapped to pine pallets'. Trees chopped down willy nilly is a sore point with me!

I loved everything about  'Signature' by WA's Johannes Pannekoek, how it looks and what it represents. Created in marine grade aluminum 'the spiral form is encountered so frequently in the natural world, the artist interprets this as nature's signature'.. j'adore! I had read about Bulk Carrier (behind Signature) and was quite prepared to hate it, but this enormous PVC creation by WA's Norton Flavel was mesmerizing as it undulated with the breeze, the 'nozzle' bobbing drunkenly up & around! It made it's presence felt in many of the pictures by it's size alone, did I mention the undulating :)

Above 'Rescheduling Permanence' by Helen Seiver  from WA. Constructed in wood and crocheted plastic bags representing 'domestic responsibility for plastic waste disposal and it's devastating impact on our waterways and oceans'. Well I hope this hasn't been too much but I feel the work that goes into these sculptures deserves to be explained what do you think? More tomorrow and maybe not so much chat :) Happy Tuesday, take care.....p.s. it kind of reminded me of the Elephant Seal that was resting on our beach a few weeks ago :)

Urban art gallery....

After our unsuccessful trip to the Art Gallery last week, closed on Tuesday :) we carried on over into the city to check out the latest addition to 140ART. From afar 140 William although a uniquely designed building can look a little 'grey'.. get closer and it's a riot of vibrant artwork on street level, remember Anya Brock's budgies! Some of the art is temporary but I believe the above piece in Globe Lane by Kyle Hughes Odgers one of Australia's leading artists is there to stay! Just a few steps away the mural below by the future generation of young artists.. Yr 11 students of Mater Dei College. Vive l'art! More sculptures from this years Sculpture by the Sea tomorrow. Happy Monday, or Sunday :)

 Click here to view all participants of Monday Mural

Sculpture by the Sea 2014.....

 

You were right Angie the impetus for me to get out of my snug bed at 5am was the 1Oth annual Sculpture by the Sea on Cottesloe Beach, it grows and gets better each year. Who remembers the church window damaged in storm episode of the Vicar of Dibley.. I thought about that as soon as I saw 'Ocean Cathedral' created in bamboo by English artist Debbie Harding.This wonderfully simple structure sitting facing out to the ever changing seascape captivated my imagination.. yes I did add a touch of drama :). It was a cooler, cloudy morning but can you imagine this same piece with the clear blue sky behind it, the constant stream of ships on the horizon. I have an affinity with arches, definitely a favourite this year.....

Above in the foreground 'Shelter #2' by WA artist Stella Onderwater made up of a steel frame and inflated vinyl tube covered in beach towels 'a reminiscent look at growing up on the Perth coast'. In the background the fabulously intricate 'Permanent Sunset' created by Argentinian artist Alejandro Propato.. the positioning is perfect sitting along the edge of the shore looking like a vibrant sunset even though it was 6.30am :)

Above.. I'm in awe of the incredible amount of work that went into 'Wave 1' by Belgium born, living in WA artist Annette Thas, made up of goodness knows how many blonde barbie dolls 'alluding to childhood memories and social and environmental concerns'.. it was fascinating and slightly unnerving at the same time! You have to check this one out closer, well I hope you do with all of them :) Indiana Tea House in the background.....

The installation above titled 'Aquarium of the Pacific gyre' by USA artist Marina DeBris 'beach trash used to create art with a message'.. if only we would listen! Below '150 Surfboard Graveyard' by NSW artist Chris Anderson, 'a tribute to all the surfers' boards, raising an awareness to the wasteful disposal of surfboards into landfill', looking eerily like shark fins, a touchy subject on Cottesloe Beach!

Last one for today 'Southern Passage' by WA artist Tony Jones created in steel.. part of a series that uses the symbolism of marine hardware and navigation markers to show that 'marine markers need to be seen, read and understood'.. I hope you've enjoyed this taste of Sculpture by the Sea, I have more pieces to show you, some bizarre, some meaningful and some just plain good fun :) Happy Sunday, take care and stay safe.....

Just so you know..!

....that if you happen to be visiting Perth these are the opening hours of the Art Gallery of WA. I've lived in and loved Perth for many years.. guess which day I took this shot?  Yup! Tuesday, seriously! How could I not have noticed that before. I went to see 'Your Collection 1800 - today'.. no worries, I'll be back! Up with the sparrows this morning to take shots of one of my favourite outdoor events of the year, to get the least 'cluttered' (people) shots and a car park we're talking a 5am start, thank goodness it occurs in the summer and not the winter :) show you tomorrow. Have a wonderful weekend, take care.....

 My contribution to James' WEEK-END REFLECTIONS..

 

Sinking train lines & bridging gaps.....!

 
Up until recently the main crossing from Northbridge into the CBD, forever separated by railway lines, has been the Horseshoe Bridge built in 1904. The view above was taken from the corner of Roe and William St. looking over the bridge into the city, the shot below from the Perth Cultural Centre another crossover point.....

In the shot below the temporary bus station on Roe St. is already operational and creates another access point to the city from Northbridge.. if you pull the last shot in closer you can see where it sits to the right and back on Roe St.

..and below the catalyst for the Perth City Link project, the sinking of the Fremantle rail line between William and Lake St. thus joining the CBD and Northbridge together for the first time in over 100 years! If you click on the link there's a fantastic artists impression of the finished project and for rail enthusiasts like Andrew in Melbourne there are links to follow that will detail how this was achieved. That's the Perth Arena in the background, another brilliant success.. as for Elizabeth Quay eh! that remains to be seen, still not happy about it :) Happy Friday, take care.....