Sculpture Forest Launch, Sculpture Forest. Photo John Riddell
Over four days last week (18-21 April), we hosted our annual 4 Day Art, Food & Wine Long Weekend event, during which the Sculpture Forest stage of the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail was officially launched, delivering a major new cultural tourism experience within Bago State Forest.
Attended by over a hundred people at Laurel Hill and Pilot Hill, the Sculpture Forest was officially opened with a Welcome to Country by Uncle Craig Wilesmith, and guest speakers Margaret Sedgewick, Batlow Community Member;
Justin Clancy MP, Member for Albury; Dr Joe McGirr MP, Member for Wagga Wagga; Kathy Lyons, Senior Manager – Country and Community, Forestry Corporation NSW; Cr James Hayes OAM, Snowy Valleys Council;
David Handley, Producer & Artistic Director, Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail; and emcee’d by Batlow Resident Anne Hallard.
Bagpiper Ken Lansdown led a procession on a short walk through the forest trees to the Tony Davis work, beneath a stunning floral arrangement over an archway, keenly followed by local kids and guests.
Developed in partnership with Forestry Corporation of NSW and the local community, the initial 13 sculptures installed at the three Sculpture Forest sites (Sugar Pines at Laurel Hill; Alpine Ash Walk and Pilot Hill Arboretum) included works by international artists Shen Lieyi (China), Václav Fiala (Czech Republic), Sean Henry (England) and Steinunn Thorarinsdottir (Iceland), as well as New South Wales artists Andy Townsend & Suzie Bleach (South Coast), Dale Miles (Loftus), Lorraine Connelly-Northey (Holbrook), Philip Spelman (Queanbeyan), Stephen King (Walcha), Robyn Sweeney (Batlow), and Akira Kamada (South Coast), alongside interstate artists Tony Davis (WA) and Clancy Warner (SA).
Minister for Agriculture, Regional NSW and Western NSW, Tara Moriarty shared that “The unveiling of the new Sculpture Forest will not only add to the amazing collection of sculptures already on show throughout the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail, but also add to the region’s growing reputation as an arts and cultural destination. The Snowy Valleys Sculpture Forest is just one of many wonderful destinations for people to visit in the Bago State Forest, especially families during school holidays, and I look forward to getting down there in the future to see it in person.”
Sculpture Forest Launch & Family Day, Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail. Photo Nicholas Gray
Brendan Grimson, Visitor Experience Manager, Forestry Corporation of NSW, said “We are very proud to be partnering with Sculpture by the Sea to launch the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Forest within Bago State Forest. The Sculpture Forest builds on the success of the amazing Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail, which is a real testament to the hard work of a small team of passionate locals combined with national and international artists. State Forests of the Snowy Valleys are an incredibly magical destination which provide the perfect backdrop for this significant collection. We highly recommend visitors plan ahead and spend a number of days exploring all that the region has to offer.”
Following the official launch, Family Fun Day festivities at Pilot Hill Arboretum were had, with children treated to music workshops (courtesy of Marty’s Music School) and sand play activities (thanks to Nature Fix), after having met exhibiting artists to fill in their SVST Sculpture Forest Kid’s Passports. Visitors were offered a Do it for Batlow Sausage Sizzle, gourmet Nest picnic boxes, and access to a coffee van thanks to The Coach House Tumut.
Václav Fiala with his work ‘Universum’, Sculpture Forest. Photo Grant Hardwick
Public Sculpture Tours took place across the trail’s locations at Adelong, Batlow, Laurel Hill and Tumbarumba, including an official unveiling of the Vaclav Fiala by Zuzana Slovakova, Consul General Consulate-General of the Czech Republic; and at which Mayor Ian Chaffey, Snowy Valleys Council; Alicia Parker, Board Member, Sculpture by the Sea; Václav Fiala, Artist from the Czech Republic also spoke.
Sold out ticketed dining experiences at Courabyra Wines with artists, and Fireside at Nest were enjoyed, with wine tastings at Obsession and Johansen Wines, Simon Marnie from ABC broadcasted live in Batlow, a very big thank you to ‘Do It For Batlow’ for generously offering free breakfast sandwiches on the Sunday, ending our long weekend rounding out a perfect trip down to the Snowy Valleys.
David Handley AM, Founding Director and CEO, Sculpture by the Sea, expressed that “It has been a humbling privilege to work with the local community to develop the Sculpture Forest in response to the Black Summer Fires,” says David Handley, the Founder of Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi and the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail. Together with several new sculptures in the towns, this brings the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail to over 50 sculptures by artists from 14 countries around the world to create one of the most significant regional public sculpture collections in the world. We look forward to welcoming even more visitors to the Snowy Valleys to see the artworks, most of which have been created by artists from Sculpture by the Sea.”
Many thanks to all who helped support and contribute to the success of the events, with huge appreciation for our Snowy Valleys extended family and team!
The Snowy Valleys Sculpture Forest has been funded by the New South Wales Government. Additional funding has been provided by Forestry Corporation of NSW, government and not-for-profit organisations from the Czech Republic and Denmark, and private donations. With thanks to Aqualand, the Principal Sponsor of Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi for gifting ‘Folly Interstice’ by Tony Davis for permanent public placement at Laurel Hill.
The Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail project is jointly funded through the Australia and the NSW Government’s Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund, under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.