NEW ART” Road Kill by Victorian sculptor Jimmy Rix was unveiled last week by NSW Nationals Sam Farraway and Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM.
Victorian sculptor, Jimmy Rix breathed a sigh of relief when his commission piece for the Sculpture Down the Lachlan (SDL) trail was finally set in place at the Four Mile Reserve in Forbes. ‘Road Kill’ was officially unveiled last week following a nine month delay due to the COVID border restrictions between New South Wales and Victoria.
“I sent most of the sculpture on the semi-trailer and my plan was to head up to Forbes one week later,” Jimmy said.
“However, the NSW-Victorian border closed just a few days after, and I had to wait nine months before I could cross into New South Wales to install the work.”
Jimmy drew inspiration for ‘Road Kill’ following a trip to Forbes in 2019, at the tail end of a three year drought. The 3.5 tonne reinforced Corten steel plate sculpture, which took six months to construct, depicts a role reversal of a rebellious kangaroo taking its revenge on a busy stretch of road.
Chair of the Forbes Arts Society (FAS) Dr Karen Ritchie said ‘Road Kill’ has been “worth the wait”.
“The piece is in keeping with the SDL trail’s unofficial theme – challenging viewers to take a moment to think about our impact on the natural environment,” said Dr. Ritchie.
“What I love most about this piece is its appeal to everyone.”
The ‘Boosting the Lachlan Valley Econo-my Art Project’ has been proudly funded by the NSW Government’s Regional Growth – Environment and Tourism Fund, the Forbes Arts Society, Forbes Shire Council, Lachlan Shire Council and Evolution Mining.