Palm Park in Mullum is always a lovely spot to enjoy a moment of quiet reflection but over this weekend it has taken on a whole new atmosphere. It isn’t just the palms and the goannas that you get to commune with – this weekend you can also enjoy the beautiful sculptures that are scattered throughout the park.
The inaugural Mullumbimby sculpture festival, Ingenuity, opened on Wednesday evening and is displaying the work of 26 local artists the are placed in the park from the Scout Hall (behind the post office) around to Federation Bridge.
During the first half of Thursday morning they had around 250 people who had strolled through the park admiring the artworks.
‘It has been absolutely fantastic,’ said curator Gabrielle Dalton.
‘There has been wonderful response from everyone who has come through and it is a fantastic way to really honour this park.’
Acquisition prize
An anonymous donor has provided $5,000 for the acquisition of one of the sculptures that was won by Jason Morning. His sculpture Germination is now set to be placed on permanent display, in a position that is yet to be announced, somewhere in the shire.
‘The donor want’s to remain anonymous but they were able to participate in the opening night and that is when they made their choice of the winner,’ said Gabrielle.
Peoples choice
At the end of the weekend a people’s choice artwork will also be announced and everyone is encouraged to collect their marble and place It in the pot of their favourite work.
‘We encourage everyone to take the time to enjoy the sculptures and vote on their favourite,’ said Gabrielle.
Workshops and tours
All the artists are donating their time to help the public get hands on with making their own 30 minute sculpture at the Scout Hall. Artists will also be nearby their sculptures at different points throughout the weekend and are looking forward to talking to people about the ideas they are expressing through their work.
‘’It is really exciting for a community of artists coming together like this,’ said Gabrielle.
‘It can be really hard to survive as an artist, people need to create an income aa well as work intensely on their own with the creative ideas . The opportunity for the artists to make connections and come together and create future possible ties is part of what has made this really worthwhile.’
Tours of the sculpture festival will be taking place at 1.30am and 2.30pm daily and for those with the right timing they will also get to enjoy some surprise performance works.
‘The artists have not only created their own work, brought it here and set it up but they are all being really generous with their time both with the hands on sculpture workshops as well as being available to talk to people viewing their work,’ Gabrielle said.
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