BLUE MOUNTAINS ‘SCULPTURE’ GROWTH CURVE

THERE’S nothing like a decent exhibition to lure audiences to the Blue Mountains, and now in its sixth consecutive year, Sculpture at Scenic World continues to lure huge crowds.

Similar to past seasons, the 2017 outdoor exhibition of art is set amongst the rainforest and atop, alongside, below and in the canopy surrounding the 2.4km elevated Scenic Walkway in the Jamison Valley to 07 May.

This year, there’s 35 artworks from 41 artists on display, produced by local, national and international artists that explore the boundaries of art and nature in the region’s natural Jurassic rainforest.

The show has been expanded to span five weekends in 2017, including the school holidays to attract more families.

Justin Morrissey is heading the installation and is previously affiliated with Sculptures by the Sea which spans the scenic coastal walk between Bondi and Tamarama beaches in Sydney.

Morrissey said the mountain display is unique, incorporating riding the world’s steepest railway and the longest raised boardwalk and largest cableway in the southern hemisphere.

Entrenched at Scenic World for the past three years, Morrissey

(pictured) told BEN this year’s Sculpture at Scenic World features “a marked difference in the calibre of works and artists”.

“It’s starting to become something that artists recognise as a significant event.”

Over 160 applicants pitched projects at organisers, some of which are specific to the site in the Blue Mountains.

Over the years, artists from Germany, the US, New Zealand, Indonesia and Finland have had their work on show, most of which are also up for sale.

Fueled by a healthy interest from VFR traffic, audiences have grown year-on-year for the show, with Morrissey forecasting 2017 will be a record season.

Morrissey said the now monthlong exhibition was extended to capitalise on school holiday ‘word of mouth’ feedback, enabling other potential visitors to head to the mountains and catch a glimpse of the artworks on the following weekends.

For event organisers, Scenic World can coordinate guided tours of the exhibition, passes and accommodation packages at Carrington Hotel, Fairmont Resort, Hydro Majestic & others.

Guided tours operate daily at 1:30pm, private tours can be arranged and Morrissey said he was “open” to night touring.

An indoor exhibition entitled Sculpture Otherwise is on show at the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, up the road in Katoomba.

Next year’s Sculpture at Scenic World has been scheduled for 13 Apr to 13 May.