BATHURST’S newest public artwork, Redjar Redbottle, will be officially unveiled at a short ceremony tomorrow morning.
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The 750-kilogram piece, bought by Bathurst Regional Council from the Sculpture By The Sea exhibition in Sydney last year, was put into place in the art gallery and library forecourt last month.
Bathurst Regional Art Gallery (BRAG) director Richard Perram is looking forward to the official unveiling.
“It’s a really magnificent work. It’s fantastic, it is colourful and has lots of movement,” he said. “I think it [the unveiling] gives good acknowledgement of all the people who were instrumental in creating this work and bringing it to Bathurst.”
Philip Spelman’s sculpture was purchased using a $20,000 grant from the NSW Government (given specifically to buy one of the Sculpture By The Sea artworks) and around $15,000 of council funds. While the piece was listed for sale at $48,000, ratepayers did not have to fund the full price difference as council was not required to pay commission on the purchase.
Mr Perram said Mr Spelman would attend the unveiling ceremony, as would David Handley, the man who made Sculpture By The Sea one of Australia’s most successful art events.
The official unveiling will be performed by Minister for Local Government and Member for Bathurst Paul Toole. Bathurst mayor Gary Rush will also speak.
Mr Perram was pleased Bathurst had been the inaugural recipient of the state grant.
“I think it is really important that this state government is taking a serious approach to make sure there is more art in regional areas,” he said.
He also acknowledged the efforts of Bathurst Regional Council – which, apart from helping to fund the purchase, also surveyed and prepared the land for the artwork.
Mr Perram said BRAG had received some great feedback on the sculpture.
He said a colleague who had gone around to invite Keppel Street shopowners to the official unveiling had found the vast majority liked it.
“There are some people who don’t like it, but in time I think it will become loved and become really recognisable,” he said.
Members of the public are welcome to attend the unveiling ceremony, which will start at 11am.
