18 September 2008

New public artwork in Woden...

| Reprobate
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[First filed: September 05, 2008 @ 13:00]

Being privileged to work among the windswept canyons of north Woden, I have the opportunity to pass one of the Government’s sites for new public artwork nearly every day. What you see here is exactly how the site has been for the past three months – a half arsed, abandoned or forgotten shambles that obstructs more than half of the walkway for no good reason.

Back in April/May there was work feverishly occurring at the site, and a sculptured person of indeterminate gender made of metal plates was placed where you see the metal rod for a few weeks. He or she was wrapped in a roll of carpet-like material while work progressed. Then it disappeared – possibly never to be seen again.

Finally I realised – Reprobate, you fool!!! What you see here IS the new artwork!!!

Clearly, the fencing symbolises the disconnect between the community and the Government. The waste of space and inconvenience imposed on the citizenry speaks of the structure of our local Assembly. The pile of sand, ever shifting, represents the foundations upon which the public’s trust is based. The marble paving hints at the exceses of prior empires, with the unfinished work and random stacking of the slabs a metaphor for major local infrastructure projects like the GDE. The safety cones reflect a warning to the community of voting for a majority government ever again. Finally, the centrepiece of a bloody big spike speaks of the Government’s “get this up ya” attitude to any questioning of it’s glorious activities, particularly school closures.

Trouble is, I don’t know what it is called. Ideas?

UPDATED: The RiotACT investigations unit, aka The Canberra Times has unravelled the mystery:

    ArtsACT director David Whitney said the work had ”quite a wobble on it” when it was installed and needed some repairs, having to be removed twice from its location.

    Mr Whitney said there were fears the artwork could not be secured adequately, although he was waiting on advice from the artist.

    The sculpture was not the original one the Government had wanted to purchase, which was sold to another party. The design was similar but ”not as robust” as the original.

SNAFU then?

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I think I may drag out the arc welder and make my own scuplture. Now, where to put it…

How about the median strip on Northbourne Ave opposite the Citygate? Have you considered constructing it from vintage toilet seats and artificial limbs?

If the artwork has a wobble on it, that would be quite appropriate. Very symbolic of the Stanhope Government.

So – the gov wants to buy an artwork, sets up the installation place for it – but fails to buy it. Then gets another one (which is a bit wobbly) and has to send it back twice to make sure it doesn’t kill someone.

Can we stick to mowing lawns and collecting the garbage? These high falutin’ art things are just trouble!

on an canberra-centric artwork related topic :

did the ridiculous moving orange ducks feet “work” of art on the median strip at the start of Yarra Glen ever get a deserved flaming here somewhere ? TIA for the link

I would link to a streetview shot but the googlecam was on the blink that day it seems..

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=woden+act&sll=-25.335448,135.745076&sspn=68.015291,106.875&ie=UTF8&ll=-35.331814,149.086318&spn=0.003939,0.006523&z=18&layer=c&cbll=-35.332653,149.086018&panoid=nTPCRWnf5TmVh_clfVX3fg&cbp=1,0,,0,5

Hehehe.
The day after someone said “I could ask the Canberra Times to investigate this, though it probably wouldn’t sell much advertising space, so they wouldn’t be interested…” its an article in the Canberra Times.

Feel the power of RiotACT!

Liberals would be interested in this as a beat up

A performance piece, maybe? 🙂

There was an old article in the CT a while back outlining the amount of art that was going where.
Tuppence to whoever wantst o find it and link to it, but it made a clear mention of the Metal Plate Humanoid (FIIK what the name was actually).

Is this a symptom of Stanhope easing off his policy of “all art, all the time”?

It is artwork. The title is ‘Not Here’

FURTHER UPDATE: As of lunchtime today, all work has apparently been completed. No more fencing, no more forgotten materials. Thing is, there is also no artwork there – nothing, nada, zip! The only hint that there was ever any activity there is the oval paving, which is finished – albeit to a home-handyman standard. Just on a brief walk up and down the path, I saw a number of people look at the paving bemusedly and overheard a comment of “so where’s the statue that was going up there?”

So, putting on my best cadet reporter cap, three simple questions for the Government via RiotACT*:
1) Where is the artwork now?
2) Why the apparent change of mind to place it in that location?
3) How much did this whole exercise cost, from start to finish?

* – I could ask the Canberra Times to investigate this, though it probably wouldn’t sell much advertising space, so they wouldn’t be interested. The Chronicle would want me to come up with a media release, so they could copy the the text and call it a story. Or I could write to Jon Stanhope, but I’d like an answer sometime before the upcoming election…

Do not underestimate the power of the RiotACT, youngling!

Update: Just on a week after my post, “work” recommenced on this site today. Coincidence… or the powers of posting on the RiotAct?

All the great draconian rulers in the past have done the same. How else would we remember a such a ‘great leader’. Two lane bypass – artwork. One in the same.

kkcscdp said :

John Stanhope’s “I Don’t Recall”

No, John Stanhope “will have to look into that and get back to you, because it doesn’t seem right, although I will have to talk to a few people and get the facts straight, but as soon as I know I will have someone inform you that I’ve looked into the issue you raised with me.”

Oh higher power, forgive me. I wonder if I go to hell for mocking a Minister? I clearly listen to far too much Talk Back Minister.

‘ode to the fire deep inside the seething underbelly of this happy place’

I think my comment’s justified Pesty, someone in these bitching threads need to put forward an opposing argument 😀

canberra towie5:48 pm 06 Sep 08

Next time you’re in Anzac Parade, go up to the nurse’s memorial (the one that’s a shower screen) and look inside. It was meant to include a water feature and they never finished it. It’s full of stainless steel piping. So much for integrity and carry-through!

It was turned on but now they had to turn it off as water restrictions

It does look good when its going though

“angry voice” sounds like a good name for it to me . . .

sculptured person of indeterminate gender made of metal plates was placed where you see the metal rod for a few weeks.

Did the sculptured person of indeterminate gender look like this?

It was meant to include a water feature and they never finished it.

Or possibly the lack of water was the issue?

Brilliant post Reprobate! And some very funny name suggestion too!

Next time you’re in Anzac Parade, go up to the nurse’s memorial (the one that’s a shower screen) and look inside. It was meant to include a water feature and they never finished it. It’s full of stainless steel piping. So much for integrity and carry-through!

tastyjam said :

George said :

It really symbolises the direction that Canberra is going.

I wouldn’t go that far.

While this pole and fence ensemble was getting ogled by public servants they put up a huge windmill thing on Adelaide Ave, heading out of Woden towards Civic. It looks a lot better than a man made out of metal plates.

Maybe the authorities assessed the two and thought it should put passing traffic in higher priority than public servants? I’d say that’s worth some recognition.

Bloody ell mate, you’re game to make a comment like that on thjis site!

What a well executed news post – good job Reprobate.

Given most of the buildings in that area are named after the ships of the First Fleet perhaps the exploratory nautical theme should be continued. Therefore I suggest the new artwork is called ‘the Cape of Good Hope’, because you have to make your way around it before you get where you’re going.

And you’re right about the ‘windswept canyons of Woden’. I haven’t experienced such a blast of air since I last blow-dried my mullet in the 80s. Perhaps the foundations are for another windmill style installation? I sure hope so.

Reprobate,

Thank you for this post. Very clever, and thoroughly enjoyed.

God forbid! A bit of artwork in this city full of drab architecture and predictably whining citizens?

Wacko’s

Gestalt !

George said :

It really symbolises the direction that Canberra is going.

I wouldn’t go that far.

While this pole and fence ensemble was getting ogled by public servants they put up a huge windmill thing on Adelaide Ave, heading out of Woden towards Civic. It looks a lot better than a man made out of metal plates.

Maybe the authorities assessed the two and thought it should put passing traffic in higher priority than public servants? I’d say that’s worth some recognition.

“What The”

Loquaciousness4:12 pm 05 Sep 08

Crikey said :

Perhaps the hole in the ground surrounded by the fortress-style fence blocking pedestrians is the ‘art work’.

whoosh …

marcothepolopony4:08 pm 05 Sep 08

Reprobate, this is the best post I have ever read (and been entertained by) on this site, EVER!

Simple. The metal rod obviously symbolises what the Act Government expects the ACT folk to do. Assume the position and get shafted.

John Stanhope’s “I Don’t Recall”

Perhaps the hole in the ground surrounded by the fortress-style fence blocking pedestrians is the ‘art work’.

It could be called ‘John Hargreaves black hole’.

“Minister Not Responsible”

This ‘sculpture’ site – the hole – has been there for nearly six months. On a few occasions something has been erected (covered) but than removed.

It really symbolises the direction that Canberra is going.

barking toad2:01 pm 05 Sep 08

“The Local Mayor”

I walked past that “artwork” at least once a day in my old job. The statue didn’t look much better than the fencing that surrounded it. how much did it cost, anyway?

I had an idea based on the ‘Please use other entry/exit’ sign, but thankfully I’m far too classy to go there. Er, I mean, ‘go there’ with the suggested title, of course.

When the figure made of metal plates was bolted there (albeit briefly) I couldn’t help but think of it as the “Tomb of the Unknown Bureaucrat”.

Got to be called “untitled”.

Finally! Taxpayer funded public art that I can get behind.

I never thought the day would come.

DarkLadyWolfMother1:15 pm 05 Sep 08

“Stanhope’s Legacy”

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