Uniquely You at Swell

Jannese Parkes’ Esprit de Mer (Sea Spirit) Site 39 Photography by Lisa Bathurst

If I was only allowed to say one thing about Swell Sculpture Festival, it would be that for 10 days  you are able to visit a place where you can truly let your hair down. You can be you.

With 50 artists participating in #Swell2012, the opportunity to meet one of them and hear about their work provides a first hand experience of the thoughts behind the sculpture. The opportunity to take a Masterclass provides a once in a lifetime experience for yourself and Swell Kids Workshops extends that experience to your children.

Visitors are commenting that Swell Sculpture Festival is more interactive with Tricia Flanagan’s Preserved Fish (Site 15) where you enter the container and experience her journey among fishermen around the world, Cameron Spiller & Shelly Kelly’s Dormant (Site 34) that visitors control with their smart phones and you may even be able to learn to weave with Mirra-Winni Gaze & Wendy Johnson’s Mother’s Meditation (Site 16) when the artists are onsite.

The feeling of belonging is so strong at Swell Sculpture Festival and we look forward to seeing you before our last day – Sunday, 23 Sept 2012.

www.swellsculpture.com.au   Facebook   Pinterest/swellsculpture    @Swell_sculpture

Swell weaves it all together

The Swell Smalls Gallery opening on Friday evening was a wonderful success. Thank you to The Way of Design gallery on Currumbin Beach for welcoming our guests with champers and nibbles.

I had the opportunity to meet Wendy Johnson – who is a returning artist to #Swell2012. Wendy and Mirra Winni Gaze will present their amazing woven piece called Mother’s Meditation.

It was an eye opener listening to Wendy and her photographer discuss the tricks they have learned over the time spent shooting sculpture along the beach. From the perfect times to methods they have used to capture the perfect shot.

Whether you are a guest, are an artist or plan to volunteer – there are so many people who’s experience and skills weave together to make for an exceptional 10 days.  Listen closely to the sounds of the water crashing onto the shore intertwined with the artists performing, absorb the visitors interactions with the sculptures, welcome the interpretation of each piece with an open mind but most of all – enjoy the atmosphere that is Swell Sculpture Festival.

My evening with the artist…Jacques Van der Merwe

When was the last time you stopped to think of how far you had come? What changes life had dealt you and how you managed to move forward?

During our Preview evening, I had a moment like that – quite unexpectedly. Everyone was beginning to swarm around these amazingly detailed sculptures that had just been placed on the centre table. All I heard was “Jacques Van der Merwe’s works” and thought I should move closer…after all, I was documenting the evening for our social media outlets.

The first thing that struck me was the obvious struggle in the face and the body’s defensive form in both sculptures – I could almost feel the pain but what was that reaction to? Late in the evening, Jacques stood up in front of the crowd and explained that Witches II & IV from the immigration series was inspired by his immigration to Australia from South Africa. A journey I could relate to, having lived in the US for 30 years before moving to Australia.

There are four sculptures in the series and it is the progression of an individual adjusting to new culture, country, etc. The excitement and the freshness of a new life in a new country and then reality begins to set in. For me, it was the reality that it was costly (before Skype) to call my friends, that I generally forgot the change in time zones or that I would be missing weddings, births and deaths of people who marked my life story…my memories of the past…my history.

Through the adjustments, learning the differences (and similarities) of your new home – you begin to emerge from this taken back, scared and confused inner battle (reflected quite vividly in Jacques’ work) and you find your way. You may not always feel “settled” and you will always miss your past, but you are free to start your future in your gorgeous new home – mine being Australia.

It is not that you do not love your new country – it is the rebirth of yourself in a new location that can sometimes be the most confronting.

See Jacques Van der Merwe at #Swell 2012. http://www.swellsculpture.com.au

From a ripple to a Swell

I am sort of the new kid on the block at Swell Sculpture Festival. I have attended for years, live in the neighbourhood and love the art scene of the Gold Coast. I first met Natasha and Ruth, the Directors of Swell Sculpture Festival, at a monthly Women in Tourism Gold Coast breakfast this year – where they were speaking about the 10 years of Swell.

One of the statements that stood out from Natasha’s presentation was how Swell “was created from a ripple and turned into a big Swell”. How true this was and it speaks volumes when you look at the history of Swell Sculpture Festival.

The Festival was an idea from local mother’s who often visited the beach with their babies. A mutual love of sculpture and the interest in leaving behind a legacy for their children motivated these mothers to start Swell Sculpture Festival on the boardwalk of Currumbin Beach. From the small idea has grown an annual event attracting over 170,000 visitors, 50 sculptors (both local and international) and countless memories.

There is a reason for everything, I truly believe that. You could question whether the initial meeting of the group of mothers was for the purpose of creating this amazing festival that has touched so many people. I wonder if the reason I attended the WIT breakfast that morning was to encourage my path to cross with Swell’s. No matter what you believe…I know for a fact that the impact Swell Sculpture Festival has made on my life definitely started as a ripple and has grown to be one of the most inspiring – creatively, motivating – personally and exciting rides of my life.

Join us for Swell Sculpture Festival 2012 from 14-23 September along Currumbin Beach’s boardwalk. http://www.swellsculpture.comm.au #swell2012