Byron Bay’s renowned beachside parklands will soon be transformed into an open-air art gallery for one of the most anticipated exhibitions of the year: artsCape Biennial 2010.
Opening on 26 June and running until mid-July, artsCape Biennial 2010 will turn Byron Bay’s stunning beachside parklands into an exquisitely unique outdoor exhibition that will convey powerful and moving messages relating to all things environmental, with an ultimate aim to promote thought and change.
The works of 65 local, national and international sculptors will be showcased in the heart of one of Australia’s prettiest coastal towns in northern NSW. Many of these sculptors are nationally famous or world-renown, and twenty-four of them are from the local region. Lismore-based artist Anna Nordstrom is excited to be invited to exhibit her creation: a plastic square tree.
“The great thing about art is that when it conveys messages about the environment, it’s different to reading a newspaper article or seeing a documentary on TV,” Anna said. “No matter what the topic or issue, the visual arts work on a different level with people. It’s a form that really cuts through: it moves people and impacts them.”
The themes being explored in this exhibition include flora and fauna, ecology, marine conservation, water, air quality, the land and indigenous culture. Every work in this exhibition is required to convey some message about the environment and sustainability: Anna’s piece sends messages about our modern plastic-filled world and about the value of trees – the need to protect existing trees and stop cutting them down and replacing them – in a time of worldwide deforestation.
All the works on show at artsCape 2010 will be for sale, with 5% of all sculpture sales commissions going to local non-profit group the Northern Rivers Community Foundation. But selling them is not the primary goal of the exhibition.
“Conceptual; sensual; challenging, artsCape 2010 will undoubtedly stimulate strong responses – it is sure to entrance all who experience it,” said artsCape Biennial Chairman Robert Bleakley.
Prominent arts industry professional Julian Beaumont, a board member of the National Gallery of Australia Foundation and member of the artsCape Biennial 2010 judging panel, said “The sculptures that have been selected for the exhibition will bring into sharp focus, not only the intrinsic beauty of the landscape, but maybe also the threat that the landscape is exposed to.”
“An incredibly impressive and diverse array of artists will show in this exhibition, each with their own personal interpretation of the theme, many with an international reputation, many others with national repute, and most importantly many whose work is still evolving. Each of them will show a work which demonstrates their grasp of our environment and their understanding of the respect it deserves.”
Among the other sculptors invited to participate is Bert Flugelman – perhaps Australia’s most distinguished sculptor along with other high profile artists such as Greg Johns from Australia, Phil Price from New Zealand, Usama Alnassar from Syria, Keizo Ushio from Japan and Nick Horrigan from UK, to name a few.
Hope to see you there!
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Byron Bay’s renowned beachside parklands will soon be transformed into an open-air art gallery for one of the most anticipated exhibitions of the year: artsCape Biennial 2010.
