9 August 2010

Dancers on a Lakefront - new art for Belconnen

| johnboy
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[First filed: Aug 6, 2010 @ 11:01]

Belconnen Arts Centre

The Chiefly Stanhope has proudly announced a new public art piece for the Belconnen Arts Centre on Emu Bank:

Dancers on a Lakefront is comprised of seven groups of bright yellow rods, which range in heights of between five and seven metres.

Dimopoulos modelled the design on the reeds that fringe the Lake Ginninderra foreshore and the autumn-coloured street trees of the nearby Emu Bank.

The kinetic artwork, which moves in the wind, also draws inspiration from the energy and movement that takes place at the Centre’s dance studio.

Mr Stanhope said the artwork was a fitting marker for the Belconnen Arts Centre which is located in the heart of the Belconnen Town Centre.

“Dancers on a Lakefront makes a striking addition to the Belconnen Arts Centre and complements its wonderful location on the lake shore,” Mr Stanhope said.

“The artwork greets visitors as they arrive at the Centre and reflects the creative activity that takes place within its gallery, foyer, dance studio and classrooms.

Here’s some video of it in action:

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They look ok, would I have paid 165k for that? No… Even if it wasnt my money.

Well done Jon Stanhop – another waste of tax payers money when we could have better spent it on a lot of things in Canberra that need fixing or cleaning up.

How about using that money to clean up a lot of the grafitti or better yet, cleaning up rubbish and making Canberra look like a clean place to be. Don’t get me wrong, I like art but this type of art is awful and does nothing for me.

grumpyrhonda8:50 am 08 Aug 10

Even after listening to it, I’m not overly impressed. I can understand art being good in public places, but surely it could have been accomplished for a lot less. I can see the art from my office. Maybe it will look better after spring begins.

Pommy bastard1:21 pm 07 Aug 10

What consultation happens before these “works” are commissioned? Do we have any say in these farces?

My only complaint is that they didn’t install this sculpture outside the Waldorf; just to give those tossers another ‘intrusive’ noise to complain about.

$165k does seem a lot of money to pay for some fibreglass(?) rods stuck into a few feet of concrete – unless these artists work on the same kind of system of quoting that was applied to the BER!

Drove by last night on the way to getting a video. It was still intact – and looked particularly stunning all lit up and pretty… Go see it at night peoples…

A major component of the $165K would have been installation… it has taken weeks…

Might go take some photographs at night in the next few days – will post one here if the look half as good as the artwork…

Proudof Canberra1:14 am 07 Aug 10

Oh look more money going down the drain. Glug Glug Glug

JessicaNumber11:48 pm 06 Aug 10

I do quite like the way it sounds in the video. I do intend to pass by and have a listen to it at some point over the next few weeks. 🙂

Back in the day they used to get the kids from local schools to do the design work.. (tuggeranong park thingo) Maybe they need to have some of these artsy types on payrol!

wow…. the things I could do for $165,000

Don’t get me wrong, I think they’re nice. but where does all that money go?

i wish stanhope would STOP spending taxpayers money on his so called “art work”. Canberra the city of bad taste

Most of the above posts are a pefect example of why the government can never win. If they build basic (cheap) buildings they get shit canned for ugly concrete buildings and no street character. If they spend money putting in public artworks and a splash of colour they get shit canned for wasting money that could have otherwise been spent on schools and health.

Who the hell would want to be a local pollie hey? No wonder we have the dills that we have.

The expenditure on these sticks, in addition to the money for the Cavalry Baseball team, the artists centre, and the recent art at the Arboretum is probably welcomed by those with an interest.

Pity that the $8M funding for anything motorsport related has been quietly returned to consolidated revenue, and enthusiasts denied the promised facilities.

Don’t know much about that sort of art but I’ve been as pissed as a poet on pay day…

I like it, but then again I like the idea of an arboretum =)

Would like it even more if they called it “Loose Sticks in Concrete”.

Furry Jesus said :

do you know any artists with fat wallets?

Nope. Don’t know any fat artists. Don’t most only scrape in one meal a day?

As for the Dancers, I wonder if their rustling sound will remain appealing?

talking about absence of intellect, anyone want to open a book on how long before the first shopping trolley sits proudy atop the dancers, and special prizes for a matching row?

colourful sydney racing identity2:51 pm 06 Aug 10

bobbatty said :

I am concerned about the absence of intellect in most of the comments surrounding these spear like artistic artefacts. Let’s stop thinking that art is a waste of money and think more about the aesthetic value for the community in having something to look at that isn’t a statue of Stan-in-hope for next election.

Get used to it bobbatty, most posters (not me) on this site seem to have the view that public art = bad.

Wow and wow…I just listened to the pictures that move taken by Johnboy and I must say that I was mightily impressed. These are much better than I anticipated and will amuse people for hours! I’m going to send visitors for sure.

I am concerned about the absence of intellect in most of the comments surrounding these spear like artistic artefacts. Let’s stop thinking that art is a waste of money and think more about the aesthetic value for the community in having something to look at that isn’t a statue of Stan-in-hope for next election.

All the south side gets is two identical windmills!

Beautiful addition to the arts precinct, yes. $165k no. Fat artist’s wallet – do you know any artists with fat wallets?

Too flexible for spears, but I bet they’d be good for flagellation.

Oscillate Wildly1:38 pm 06 Aug 10

p1 said :

Looks interesting. I too am a little concerned about it’s ability to withstand drunk people wandering home from Sails The Lighthouse. Also of concern is it’s UV stability (will the yellow still look good in a few years), and what it will be like in a truly high wind.

Hopefully they won’t go flying off and impaling passers-by!

Inappropriate1:09 pm 06 Aug 10

How soon before people snap them off?

they will also provide a handy source of spears whilst rioting.

165k…..for some sticks.
Which arse clown approved the purchase of some yellow sticks for 165k? wow.
Seriously, aren’t there more important causes to put money into than fattening up some “artists” wallet?

Now if they’d designed the Grasses sculpture on the GDE to move and make noise (think massive I-beams clanging together) it would be that much better!

Bamboo would have done a better job I think…

…or why not just put a pond out the front and transplant some of the real stuff from a few meters away?

Looks interesting. I too am a little concerned about it’s ability to withstand drunk people wandering home from Sails The Lighthouse. Also of concern is it’s UV stability (will the yellow still look good in a few years), and what it will be like in a truly high wind.

ah yes, how’s the serenity?

Wow, I’m excited! As I’ve previously posted, Belco is on the move and will be vibrant and attractive after the completion of the mall and other facilities. Even though you may think that yellow sticks are wasteful, it all adds to the ambiance.

Gungahlin Al11:34 am 06 Aug 10

$165K I think CT said.

An interesting piece, the colour will really stand out when the adjacent trees are green.

But I’m guessing it will be a vandalism magnet. Some pieces are better off indoors. As I said in the thread about the zebras getting wrecked, outdoor art has to be bombproof cos there are altogether too many cretins out there.

Pommy bastard11:18 am 06 Aug 10

Wow, some sticks! How much did we fork out for these?

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