Concrete Sculpting Residency Festival of the Wind 2011

This was a project that we coordinated in the leadup to the Festival of the Wind (7th - 18th March 2011). The project was funded through the Regional Arts Fund, which is the Australian Government's regional arts program and is administered in WA by Country Arts WA. Jahne Rees was invited to Esperance for a 2 week residency to collaborate and mentor a group of local artists in the public art process. Local artists gave of their time voluntarily and the resulting sculptures installed along the foreshore have been well received by the local community. Artists involved were Nicole Chalmer, Phil Shelton, Marcia Leonard, Colette Annice, Rob Maley, Susan Laing, Emma Valente and myself. We also had generous support from local businesses such as Esperance Concrete Solutions PTY Ltd, The Cannery Arts Centre, Concrete World, Greene's Crane Hire, Reed Fabrication, Trophy Kings and the Shire of Esperance. Corrective Services loaned a number of their crew to help out with some of the grinding which was much appreciated.  These sculptures represent a truly fantastic community effort, they took over 300 hours of volunteer labour to create and feedback from the community has been really positive. Participant artists found the experience extremely positive - for some mostly a confirmation that they don't want to work in concrete! Special thanks to Emma for all her hard work in welding all the Rio bar and stainless steel shell inserts - all in all a fabulous outcome! Here's to more magnificent public art projects.

artists in preliminary discussions

tracing out the shape of the sculpture

the first pour

cutting the kelp design into the wet concrete seat top 

grouting the kelp design

Rob busting open the formwork

Nicole and Emma discussing the steel inlay design

Embedding local granite rocks

Proof im not just a paperpusher..!

Phil on the airchisel

Susan and Marcia preparing the formwork for the next pour

Susan on the concrete grinder

Seat top detail

shovelling concrete

raising up the concrete sculptural uprights so that they can be worked on

sculptural uprights in process

Jahne Rees - visiting Artist in Residence

Loading the seats onto the truck

2 and half tonnes of concrete - too easy!

installing the upright

pouring concrete around the footings

Rob sealing the seat sides

the final pieces

swinging into position

the Festival unveiling

ready for unveiling

MLC Robin Chapple cuts the ribbon, with Thuriyya Ibrahim Vice Chair of Esperance Community Arts, Amber Perryman Executive Officer of Esperance Community Arts and Jahne Rees, visiting Artist in residence

to see the plaque installed on the sculpture see here: sculpture plaque
to see more photos from the Festival of the Wind 2011 go here:  FOW 2011 Gallery of Photos