One Wooden Wombat.....

@ City Square, Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia

Nov 2008 Ajr

The artist?

Your guess is as good as mine.

The powers that be in Melbourne have an annoying habit of not naming or attributing their public sculptures.

Little Boxes

"Untitled 2008" John Nixon. Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia. Nov 2008. Ajr

There’s not a lot to say about a series of coloured boxes scattered around Melbourne’s Federation Square cultural complex – other than: this is “Untitled 2008” by Sydney artist John Nixon. His nine enamel-painted plywood boxes – finalists in the 2008 Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture – are a bright accent in quiet corners.

Watching You Watching Me

"Watching You Watching Me," Sue Buchanan & Eli Giannini. Melbourne Nov 2008. Ajr

One of things I love most about Melbourne’s Federation Square – apart from the architecture and my favourite restaurant, Chocolate Buddha – is that it is a fabulous people-watching place. Melbourne artists, Sue Buchanan and Eli Giannini recognised that when they created their installation “Watching You Watching Me,” which is another of the ten finalists in the Melbourne Prize For Urban Sculpture 2008 currently showing throughout Federation Square. Plastic chairs with reflective tape have been arranged to create the allusion of ‘an invisible audience’ looking back at the viewer. You can also see “Measuring Up 2008” by Pamela Clements in the background – construction workers’ overalls on scaffolding, which references the interaction between people and place; and the physical labour required for the construction and habitation of buildings. For other finalists click on this website www.melbourneprizetrust.org or on Melbourne Prize For Urban Sculpture in the label line below.

There's No Stopping Creativity

"The Federation Square Skateboard Series 2008" Jason Waterhouse. Nov. 2008 Ajr

There seems to be a belligerent streak to my nature that rather enjoys seeing some of our more ‘subversive’ cultures – graffiti/street artists and skateboarders for instance – making public statements and stirring up the status quo. So it was predictable that I would relate well to “The Federation Square Skateboard Series 2008,” by Melbourne artist, Jason Waterhouse. His is another of the ten works – finalists - currently being exhibited as part of the Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2008. Like graffiti, skateboarding is something of a thorn in the side of urban planning organisations but try as they might, they rarely seem able to quell either activity for long. Creativity will always have its way. Jason Waterhouse’s work makes that very clear. His coloured boards are placed throughout Federation Square. www.melbourneprizetrust.org www.jasonwaterhouse.com For other finalists click on Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture in the label line below.

A Time For Waste

"Tritonic Jam Session 2008." Louise Paramor. Melbourne Nov 2008. Ajr

This is another of the finalists in the 2008 Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture – “Tritonic Jam Session 2008” by Louise Paramor. Made of plastic and steel pinning it is one of an ongoing series of her works that use contemporary industrial waste to explore the fundamental principles of Modernism – form, colour, spatiality. It is named for the twelve white ‘Triton’ water barriers that are often seen marking construction and demolition sites, road works and other ‘disruptions’ in urban Australia. I think it looks fabulous against its high rise backdrop. I’ll be posting images of works by the other finalists in this award - currently on display at Melbourne's Federation Square - but if you can’t wait, you can check them out at www.melbourneprizetrust.org

A Glass Act

"Reflections" Elaine Miles. The Atrium Federation Square. Nov. 2008. Ajr

Imagine 185 handblown Venetian-style plates hanging precariously from a soaring ceiling. Melbourne glass blower, Elaine Miles did – and she went one step further….suspending them in the huge atrium at Federation Square. Her installation is one of ten works in this year’s $60,000 Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture (all located around Federation Square) and it’s the one I liked the best. Called “Reflections” the work is delicate, ethereal and generally gorgeous. It casts wonderful shadows and reflections and it chimes and tinkles as the plates sway and touch each other. www.melbourneprizetrust.org