11 September 2019

Batemans Bay sculpture collection grows admist the beauty of the Clyde

| Alex Rea
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‘Portal’ with the moon rising over Batemans Bay. Photo: Alex Rea

On a balmy afternoon this week, two more sculpture were unveiled to permanently adorn the waterfront at Batemans Bay.

The result of the Sculpture for Clyde (formerly Sculpture on Clyde) annual event, the works have been added to two sculptures installed last year.

Winner of the 2018 Sculpture on Clyde event, Dance by Haruyuki Uchida, was unveiled by Brad Maloney on behalf of Big 4 and John McKaskil – President of the RSL club. Photo: Alex Rea.

First off ‘Dance’, a striking red metal sculpture by Haruyuki Uchida was revealed. Dance was acquired as the 2018 winning entry of Sculpture on Clyde.

The next show stopper was John Fitzmaurice’s work ‘Portal’, which sits opposite the Batemans Bay Soldiers Club, by the water’s edge.

John Fitzmaurice with his sculpture Portal at the unveiling on Beach Road Batemans Bay. Photo: Alex Rea

The new works are on either side of ‘Bouyansea’ (octopus) by Jesse Graham, which was installed in 2017.

‘Dance’ in the distance with ‘Buoyansea’ along the bay side. Photo: Alex Rea

In late 2018 the very popular ‘Pelicant’ sculpture, also by Jesse Graham, was installed on the rock wall of the Batemans Bay Marina.

The works have been installed on the rocky points of Clyde River so they line up for the viewer looking east or west – adding to the spectacle and presence of the public artworks.

The winner of last year’s student sculpture prize – Amanda Moore, unveiled Portal. Pictured with Batemans Bay Business Chamber President David Maclaughlin and event organiser Alison Miers. Photo Alex Rea.

The acquisition of three sculptures for Batemans Bay was made possible by ‘Sculpture for Clyde’ and the generosity of the local community; ‘Pelicant’, and ‘Portal’ were both funded by a crowdfunding campaign following last year’s event.

The permanent and growing sculpture walk is the real driver behind the Sculpture for Clyde event.

“We are thrilled to be helping create a legacy for locals and visitors to Batemans Bay, with an outdoor art gallery open every day and night of the year,” a spokesperson said.

The Batemans Bay Tourism and Business Chamber, in partnership with Willinga Park, present Sculpture for Clyde – a nine-day art festival celebrating imagination in 3D.

The festival is open to professional, emerging and novice artists with prize money in excess of $60,000. Artist applications for the 2019 event are open now but close on May 31.

The inaugural event in 2017 took place along the beautiful Batemans Bay foreshore, and it far exceeded all expectations. In 2018, the outdoor sculptures were displayed at Willinga Park at Bawley Point, with the added bonus of the impressive permanent sculpture collection at the site.

Now in its third year, the event is expected to be bigger and better in 2019. The outdoor sculptures will again be displayed at the Willinga Park horse facility. The indoor sculpture exhibition will again be staged in the Francis Guy heritage building, on Clyde Street, Batemans Bay.

Sculpture for Clyde runs August 24 to September 1.

‘Pelicant’ by Jesse Graham at Batemans Bay Marina. Photo: Alex Rea

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Janet Loxton12:17 pm 04 Feb 20

Just love the addition of sculptures along the Beach Road foreshore at BB.Those sculptures chosen are first class and uplifting. We pass them on our way to our beach house and they complement the vast bay view beautifully.
A truly inspired idea.

The recent sculptures put up are a joke n waste of time we don’t need a shit load of sculptures

Hey this new chrome ring is blinding drivers on beach road i was a victim of this the day it was uncovered hope you have good public liability insurance i reckon your going to need it after someone crashes their car
or runs someone over

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