$260K ROAD ART FURORE
SHIRE SLAMMED FOR $260K INSTALLATIONS
WINCHELSEA’S new $260,000 roadside sculptures are already causing controversy, before they’ve even been installed.
Surf Coast Shire this week started installing the piece for the town’s eastern entrance, which critics have likened to “garden rakes” that sell for $4 at Bunnings.
The installation will include 11 brightly coloured sculptures ranging in height from 5m to 8m, and an additional winged sculpture will be placed west of the town.
The $260,000 bill for the public art will be funded mostly by Surf Coast Shire ratepayers, with the Federal Government and VicRoads each contributing $50,000.
The sculptures, titled Dusk and Dawn, aim to connect the townscape and the natural environment.
The work was jointly designed by Melbourne-based artist Ben Storch and late project partner Matthew Harding.
Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur likened the sculptures to plastic garden rakes.
“They just look like 11 garden rakes from Bunnings,” she said. “Really, $100 would see this out with a bit of paint and a paint brush.
“I think it’s an outrageous waste of money.
“They think they’re art experts these local councils, but they’re not.”
Ratepayers Victoria president Dean Hurlston also expressed concern.
“Councillors would be wise to return their focus to core service delivery and not be distracted by wasteful spending,” he said.
“For the average ratepayer $260,000 is a lot of money and it could — and should — be better spent elsewhere.”
Mr Storch said the 11 sculptures on the Princes Highway median would bring a “signature vibrancy” to the landscape with the shapes open to interpretation.
The sculptures are curved as if rippling in the wind.
“I hope people won’t feel they look like garden rakes, that would be rather disappointing,” he said.
“Everyone I have shown the design to really liked it.
“I don’t know why certain politicians decide to be so negative about public art.”
Winchelsea Ward councillor Heather Wellington said community members were strongly involved in assessing concepts for the sculptures and in choosing the final designs.
“Personally, I like the designs very much, but I do appreciate people have different tastes in art,” she said.
“One of the purposes of public art is to stimulate discussion. Perhaps we should wait until the sculptures are settled in before we make a final judgment.
“The budget did blow out significantly following the sad death of one of the artists, which necessitated establishment of different arrangements for fabrication.
“There will be two significant sculptures (east and west), which will be there for a very long time and we hope will reinforce the Winchelsea community’s identity and pride.”
The sculptures will be brought to the site, near McConachy St, during the first week of October.
The western entrance sculpture is scheduled for installation later this year.
THEY JUST LOOK LIKE 11 GARDEN RAKES FROM BUNNINGS. REALLY, $100 WOULD SEE THIS OUT WITH A BIT OF PAINT AND A PAINT BRUSH.” WESTERN VICTORIA MP BEV MCARTHUR