Tuesday, March 11, 2014

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 :)



39 comments:

  1. Well, I thank you for explaining the art. It's amazing what the artists have done with junk...and very scary that so much junk exists, this being a miniscule part.

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  2. The sky is familiar, oh look it's outside my window.
    There is some junk outside the window also, or is it art.....?

    A.P.

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  3. Fascinating post and photos and amazing indeed what the artists have done with junk!!! Hmmm your skies look just like ours here in Portland!!! Thanks, as always, for sharing the fun!! Hope you have a great week!

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  4. Appart from the plate on her back you would think the first one real

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  5. I like the chat, Grace! It always helps to have a bit of background about a piece. We ship sand down to you?!?

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  6. These are really great, the sculptures and the photos!

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  7. C e sont de magnifiques sculptures ! j'aime beaucoup ! superbe exposition!

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  8. I prefer the Solar Jayne but these items are very original...the last reminds me a elephant seal to me too! Arianna

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  9. Such an interesting array of artistic interpretations and such a variety of materials used. Some of these things made me think of an exhibit I was on Sunday called "Lifelike". What a variety of strange and wonderful things I saw in that show.

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  10. What a wonderful exhibition. You captured it well.

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  11. Great series of shots. These sculptures really make the beach look interesting.

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

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  12. You really did the biz today, Grace! A very full and comprehensive write-up of what looks like an amazing and BIG exhibition. I especially love your personal views :). Spot on!!

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  13. Brilliant. The first one is my favourite!

    Btw, what are the intriguing things in your shopping bag? :-)

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  14. What a great time to be at the beach! I love both the art and your great photos of it all.
    They look good in this size and when I "embiggened" them, they look fantastic!

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  15. These are, each one, fantastic. I really like the ballet woman. And thanks for suggesting we embiggen the photos. Talk about a fun day at the beach!

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  16. Seems a bit different this year, with less minimal works and more pieces involving a lot of construction.

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  17. Wonderful series, Grace. I really like the dancer looking out to sea.

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  18. Striking works!
    ALOHA from Honolulu
    Comfort Spiral

    =^..^= <3

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  19. Goon bag. Sounds like something from an old Popeye cartoon that is filled with Goons. Now if it were filled with Yuengling Premium.....

    Neat sculptures.

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  20. What a wonderful idea for an art festival. Solar Jayne is my favorite!

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  21. I am so jealous, Grace. Amazing sculptures, one after another. You live in a wonderful place.

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  22. These are amazing, colourful, and thoughtful all at once!

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  23. Nice job recycling those pallets into artwork.

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  24. Oh gosh, love that rhino and Norfolk Pine - but the first two were so very lovely a juxtaposition! How wonderful this would be to see in person! (ps I love that you picked up on the Harvard dorm name, Hurlbut:)

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  25. I can't decide which one I like best--they're all wonderful!

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  26. Fantastic Grace, thanks. More to come?

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  27. My goodness Grace. What a sight. My favourite is the first one of the red suited lady about to take a dive. The giant wine cask comes in a very close second. What a great exhibition and a great way to spend a day. Fresh air, exercise and amazing sights to see.

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  28. Fantastic trip to Cottesloe, Grace. Think I must take another trip west but this time keep my eyes open!

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  29. Wonderful sculptures!

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  30. Curiosas y alegres imagenes..un abrazo desde Murcia.

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  31. I have never seen anything like this.....quite amazing,

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  32. Very nice and well done. Best greetings from Italy.

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  33. What an amazing exhibition, love all the art works!

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  34. These are great! Thank you Grace.

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  35. I just love 'Solar Jayne', Grace! What a great idea, so beautiful, too.
    Yes it sure is weird with all the rubbish we produce and often dump into the ocean.
    That rhinoceros is hilarious, guess one or another gets horrified on first glance ;-)
    The Canadian sand bags sure remind me of the fact that we in Northern Germany get - for example - milk from South Germany. We have cows, too, enough of them!
    That wine-bag... we saw them in your place back in 1995 - they made their way to Germany not that long ago only! So much for being advanced again...

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  36. Fantastic works of art, and your photographs are also great Grace.

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  37. A pretty fascinating art show!!! I love the woman in red...

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  38. The rhinoceros wasn't there when I went, there was a sign to say it had been removed. That wine carrier is amazing, what a monster!

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  39. I am so surprised with all the creativity.
    Nice posting, as usual.

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