Kim Muffet, Dr Karen Ritchie of the Forbes Arts Society Chair, Stephen King, Cr Keith Mullette, The Hon. Sam Farraway MLC, Warwick Rolfe, Phil Donato MP, Rosie Johnston, Joy Russell and Wendy Muffet, Grazing Down the Lachlan Chair.
There is double the excitement for the latest additions to the Sculpture Down the Lachlan (SDL) public art trail.
Forbes Arts Society Chair, Dr Karen Ritchie said: “Everyone has been eagerly awaiting the next instalment since the unveiling of Varanus in July, which has already clocked up over 15,000 visitors. So, we are delighted to continue the roll out of the Sculpture Down the Lachlan expansion with not one, but two new installations.”
Tower, by Walcha-based sculptor Stephen King was officially unveiled last week along Wilbertroy Lane, 33 kilometres from Forbes on the Lachlan Valley Way towards Condobolin. King is renowned for his distinctive timber structures and carvings and was recently awarded the Helen Lempriere Scholarship at the 2020 Sculpture by the Sea and first prize at the 2020 Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival.
“The tower represents our need to control our resources. The water tower has almost been made redundant,” Stephen said.
“Advances in technology continue to change the way we store and use water. The old water towers stand as sculptural relic and reminders of what we leave behind in our attempts to meet the challenges of life on earth.”
Arhab Bik Bialhabi, I Welcome You with Love, by Western Australian-Iraqi sculptor, Ayad Alqaragholli arrived in Forbes last month, finding its permanent home in Albion Park. The bronze couple symbolises loyalty, love, and a sense of belonging.
To appropriately accommodate the new addition, Forbes Arts Society have teamed up with Forbes Shire Council to give Albion Park a makeover, which includes an underground irrigation system, new bench seating and pathways, as well as upgrades to the toilet block and signage.
Albion Park will be home to three sculptures in total. Anta Omri has taken the place of The Hunter which will be relocated to Gum Swamp.
The SDL extension is part of the $7 million Boosting the Lachlan Valley Economy Art Project, it includes the construction of a new cultural and arts centre on the corner of Lachlan and Church Street and the Gum Swamp redevelopment.
The ‘Boosting the Lachlan Valley Economy Art Project’ is proudly funded by the NSW Government’s Restart NSW program through the Regional Growth, Environment and Tourism Development Fund, the Forbes Arts Society, Forbes Shire Council, Lachlan Shire Council and Evolution Mining. The project aims to promote the Lachlan Valley region as a premier tourism destination.