How often does it happen that the average person who lives in a town or city walks around with out noticing what is telling a story or portraying a message?
So now let me explain a few public works of art that can be seen in our fair city. Suffice to say I will present them as time permits, and my photographic skills improve. I am still getting used to my two Kodak cameras, the first is a very handy and reliable pocket model C663, and the second a Z7590, more akin to a reflex film camera. Both have 1 gigabyte memory cards so I can click away to my hearts content. So it doesn't matter if I stuff up, just take another photo and delete the ones that are not up to scratch. It's as easy as that.
Now the first being the
"Pageant In Time."
Artist: Stephen Walker
Location: 80 Wilson Street, Burnie.
This bronze sculpture is positioned outside the Burnie City Council Chambers, 80 Wilson Street, Burnie the work of artist Stephen Walker. It was commissioned by the City Council in 1991, and was to be the first of Burnie's public art works.
This magnificent bronze and basalt tableau captures the very essence of Burnie though a series of six figurative groupings each representing an aspect of Burnie's life or history.
The first section is a seagull and a wave sculpture reflecting Burnie's link to the sea.
The first Column represents Burnie's heritage through a group of pioneers, the second represents sport, the third represents the importance of family, while the final column represents industry.
The final section is a hemispherical sculpture representing a convergence of activities into the city port, including an Emu with chicks as an informal interpretation of the city symbol.
It was appropriate that when I took this photograph a worker came in to the frame symbolising exactly what the sculptures where implying.
"The Worker"
Artist: Lisa Garland.
Location: East of Burnie Surf Life Saving Club, North Terrace, Burnie.
This artwork can be viewed on the lawns of West Beach, North Terrace, Burnie, and was co-ordinated by Artist Lisa Garland.
The colourful and eclectic Worker totem, crowned by the wheel of industry icon, is an exploration of contemporary and historical issues within the North-West community, expressed in mosaic form.
Initiated by Multicap Day Service with assistance from Arts Tasmania and corporate sponsors, The Worker was designed, fabricated and constructed by clients of Multicap in 1997-98 using materials which reflected the close relationship between industry and its people.
Wood'n Art
Artist: Wayne Z Hudson
Locations: Cnr Wilson and Cattley Streets, Burnie, and West of the Burnie
Surf Life Saving Club, North Terrace, Burnie.
There are two pieces of Wayne Z Hudson's work to be seen in Burnie. The first may be seen at the corner of Cattley and Wilson Streets. The second may be seen at West Beach, North Terrace, Burnie.
"Wayne Hudson worked with local youth to design and fabricate the two intriguing sculptural seats which comprise the Wood'n Art project.
The seats which feature historic scenes of Burnie, are constructed from wood which was rescued the last of Burnie's timber wharves.
Commissioned by the Burnie City Council in 1998, the projects goal was to produce functional public furniture which incorporated materials and images to present an artistic rendition of Burnie's history."
Water Feature
Artists: Peter Holloway and Sue Small.
Location: Marine Plaza, Burnie.
The work of artists Peter Holloway and Sue Small, the Water Feature
can be viewed at the Marine Plaza in front of the Multi Storey Car Park,
between Marine Terrace, and Wilson Street, Burnie.
Commissioned by the Burnie City Council in 1998 as a part of the multi-storey car park development, the water feature includes a colourful mosaic stream and a shaped basalt rock which mirrors the unique basalt columns on the corner of Marine Terrace and North Terrace.
These columns are now over shadowed by the new luxury apartments that have been built during 2006 - 07 but still a feature of Burnie.
Alexander Beetle House
Artist:
Christianne Goss.
Location: 34 Alexander Street, Burnie.
Christianne Goss created the Mosaic mural which is Burnie's newest piece of public art. This work was the result of a partnership between the City Council and the State government in 2003.
Unfortunately a local graffiti artist had defaced it at the time of this photo being taken in April 2007. It now remains a job to clean it again to its original pristine condition.
Waves 'n Wall
Artist: Wayne Z Hudson.
Location: Burnie Surf Life Saving Club, North Terrace, Burnie.
Located on the southern wall of the refurbished Surf Life Saving Club this art
work was jointly funded by the Burnie City Council and Arts Tasmania in
1999. Wayne Z Hudson designed and constructed Waves 'n Wall from
glass, and stainless steel. The cast glass features were produced by
Nick Mount of Adelaide, South Australia.
The top image as it was prior to redevelopment, the second as it was being re-installed in April 2007.
The original back ground colour was buff shade of pink and stood out more than the new background which now tends to overpower the art work. Of cause it is a matter of personal opinion to the viewer.
Creative Pathways
Artist:
Curtis Hoare.
Location: Mooreville Road, Burnie.
A joint initiative of the University of Tasmania, TAFE Tasmania, Hellyer College, Burnie Primary School, and the Burnie City Council, the Creative Pathways project is using artworks and landscape features to identify, mark, enliven and inspire Burnie's learning precinct.
The first stage of the project, partly funded by Arts Tasmania under the Art for Public Building Scheme, is two vibrant sculptural markers outside TAFE Tasmania and the University of Tasmania campuses.
Each artwork comprises a pedestal base supporting an irregular column upon which is mounted an assortment of objects, Additional markers will be installed along the pathway as funding becomes available, The artwork was commissioned in 2002 and opened in 2003.
Platypus
Artist:
Helmut Schwabe.
Location: Fern Glade Reserve.
Platypus is an interpretive piece commissioned in 2002 by the Burnie Wildlife Interpretation Project.
Carved from black basalt, the sculpture illustrates what people should look for when hoping to see platypus breaking the surface of the waterway.
The Sculpture marks the start of Fern Glade platypus trail which also includes features hand painted tiles made by the children from the Leighland Christian School's Waterwatch program under the guidance of local artist Christianne Goss.
Mosaic Murals.
Artist: John Emmerton.
Location: Parkside, 1 Strahan Street, South Burnie.
"Commissioned by the State Government in 2000 under the Art For Public Buildings Scheme, these two mosaic pine and steel installations reflect a seaside theme.
The mosaic at the entrance to the Dental Unit depicts a whale's tail, while the companion piece at the entrance to the Renal Unit is based on the rhythm of the ocean and the waves.?
Mosaic Stairs.
Artist:
Maudie Bryan
Location: Creative Paper, Old Surrey Road, Burnie.
Before giving the account of this work of art, it must be pointed out the Creative Paper is due for re-location to the West Park Precinct of what was once the original Burnie High School, and later the Adult Education complex by June 2007. Whether or not the mosaic work will be dismantled and moved remains to be seen.
"The mosaic stairs and wall mural were commissioned by Creative Paper in 2000 to welcome visitors to their showroom. The work is made up of two sections with the actual stairs depicting The Ancient Sea Bed? and the adjoining entrance was capturing The Spirit of the Ocean. Both the stairs and the mural were made from handmade ceramic pieces, kiln fired glass and ceramic tiles. If you look closely you can see sea life images and imprints from machinery used in the paper making industry.?
Tribute to Tare.Nore
Artist : Carol Horton
Location: Burnie Civic Plaza. (Next to the Burnie Civic Centre)
Tribute to Tare. Nore is the story of a brave Aboriginal female warrior caught up in her people's fierce but futile struggle for independence.
The Burnie City Council commissioned the installation
in 1997 as part of the
Local
Councils Remember Program - a reconciliation project designed to
establish appropriate memorials to people and events associated with
Aboriginal and Torres Islander heritage.
Acknowledgement: The information displayed on this page has been taken from a Burnie City Council visitor brochure obtainable from the Council Chambers, or the Burnie Visitor Information Centre.