6 August 2008

A peek at the $1 million major Centenary artwork shortlist.

| johnboy
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The Chief Minister and Minister for the Arts, Jon Stanhope, has announced the shortlist of designs for the ‘major centenary artwork’ (pricetag $1 million) to grace the intersection of London Circuit and Northbourne Avenue.

    This is an extremely important investment in the heart of our city and it is crucial that we address all possible technical and siting issues before a final choice is made between the shortlisted works,” Mr Stanhope said today.

    “The Government has therefore asked the artists for the three designs ranked most highly by the evaluation panel to address remaining technical, design and siting issues.

    “Each of the three designs is quite distinct in terms of form and materials and unresolved technical and design issues have been identified with each of the proposals.

    “Such fine-tuning is expected with works of this scale and significance and the Government has elected to give each of the three highest-ranked entrants the chance to resolve outstanding issues before a final decision is made.”

The CM’s office has kindly provided us with the images in the slideshow. I’m sure you will be free with your opinions.

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Why didn’t they resurrect the waving red feminist fan sculpture that didn’t make it onto the front lawn in front of Parliament House. It was a great work – just slated for the wrong place.

Maybe that’s Walter Burley Griffin’s head on that dreadful banal Murray-White entry? In which case – where is Marion Mahoney Griffin?

SSSHHHIIITTT!!!!!!!
Couldn’t we maybe drop a huge block of marble there with a plaque on it quoting whoever the famous artist was who said something like ” the ……… was in there already, I just chipped away the bits that weren’t the ………” and suggesting that people look inside the block and see what they can see. And with the OTHER $900,000.00…….

ant said :

1 million would buy a lot of pansies or petunias to arrange into patterns.

I do hope that you mean the flower?

1 million would buy a lot of pansies or petunias to arrange into patterns.

Gungahlin Al9:26 pm 06 Aug 08

Is it too late to enter my idea of the dissolving/merging Australian coat of arms with the pieces suspended on wires above the avenue?
I tried to find it but the RA search engine came up empty.
(BTW Mr Stanhope, still waiting for my reply on that email.)

Hang on Resonance is pinching my suspension idea…

Third one looks the least terrible (though how long before someone steals the big Griffin head like in that Simpsons episode?), the others look like rubble from ground zero.

“This is an extremely important investment in the heart of our city and it is crucial that we address all possible technical and siting issues “

Funny, never heard comrade Stanhope and co use the terms “extremely important investment” or “crucial the we address” about our water supply, or schools.

Floating balls are so passe

someoneincanb4:26 pm 06 Aug 08

I’d be happier if we could just have our local school back.

Artwork might put a smile on some faces, but its not quite the same as giving kids an education. I guess they could practice their spelling whilst covering Aspect Studio’s concrete in graffiti.

Ralph said :

Where’s my $1 million.

Only 250,000 left, the rest was spent on a pile of RSJ’s on the side of the GDE!

Where’s my $1 million.

I vote that someone who has the power write an administrative process to say that the CM should never again be allowed to be Minister of the Arts.

I would rather see a lick of paint on the Sydney and Melbourne Buildings.

Yes yes I know they are privately owned buildings but they are the significant structures on the thoroughfare through the City.

Bah humbug. I am sick of the Stanhope fascination with art. I am voting for whatever cretin says “No more public artworks” it is as simple as that.

If we have to have some meanigless waste of public money, I am with Utah, but I want Al Grassby to be giving the double bird. At least that would be funny.

I think a thirty foot tall stature of Al Grassby would be ideal. His right hand could be in a gesture of welcome drawing in legitimate ethnic business people; and his left hand could be warding off zealous anti-drug campaigners.

I mean, can this town honestly say it’s done enough for the man?

Skidbladnir said :

Perosnally, I would have favoured whoever proposed a large marble hand menacing a smaller marble globe.

On it would be the phrase “ipsa scientia potestas est”, and it will send an appropriate message to visitors of just what Canberra does for them.

knowledge itself is power??

wouldn’t that be an oxymoron with jon?

caf said :

“Resonance” isn’t bad however.

It would be interesting to see what happens to it in a storm though.

Perosnally, I would have favoured whoever proposed a large marble hand menacing a smaller marble globe.

On it would be the phrase “ipsa scientia potestas est”, and it will send an appropriate message to visitors of just what Canberra does for them.

Loquaciousness2:40 pm 06 Aug 08

What the hell is that thing by Aspect Studios supposed to be? And what’s with the disembodied head of Hillary Clinton?

And I’d probably like the Resonance thing, but I can see people whinging about the energy consumption …

*sigh* Is this really the best thing they could come up with for a million big ones?

L

I like Resonance too!

what happened to a burnt out stump spurting the lifeblood of canberra into a coffer?? (oh. wait. I didn’t submit it….)

I am disappointed that the Colossus of Canberra didn’t get a guernsey.

“Resonance” isn’t bad however.

Does anyone know who is on the evaluation panel?

Come ot think of it, who’s head is that on Clive Murray-Whites sculpture?

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