It’s a SWELL trip

Jack Quilter – Harvest Dancer 2

Are you a planner? Have you started preparing for your visit to Swell Sculpture Festival this year? It’s incredible what can fit into a day and we are really utilising every moment we have available for guests to immerse themselves in sculpture.

If you love to photograph Swell – an early morning sunrise shimmering against the raw materials on show at #Swell2012 or a rich colour scheme against them as the sun sets proves an exquisite moment captured.

If you are into a family experience – book your children into Leonie Rhodes Swell Kids workshops and bring your bathers for a swim followed by a nice picnic amongst the sculptures.

For those who love a bit of music playing no matter where you are…we have you covered with Swell Sounds each weekend with exceptional singers and bands. You can enjoy your coffee or an ice cream cone while enjoying a range of styles.

And the artists…we could never forget you (and all you give us). The Public Art Forum will discuss Equilibrium, you can participate in a Master Class or meet the artists of the sculptures during the Artists Talks.

Don’t forget there are amazing local restaurants and shops all along Currumbin Beach as well so you can make the day of it. There is plenty on offer at Swell Sculpture Festival!

Please visit the Swell Sculpture Festival website www.swellsculpture.com.au for all of the details of “What’s On” at Swell 2012 and we look forward to seeing you on the beach 14-23 Sept Currumbin Beach, Qld Australia. For up-to-the minute information or just to see what is going on – follow #Swell2012 on Twitter.

For those who can not visit Swell 2012, do not worry… we will report via Twitter @Swell_Sculpture, Facebook Facebook.com/swellsculpture and Pinterest pinterest.com/swellsculpture so catch up with us on the web.

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.

Interactive Sculpture

Last Friday during the DARK NEON site selection I glanced along the beach and noticed an odd addition…a shipping container. It obviously looked out of place but the Swell Sculpture Festival vinyl banner reminded me quickly that Tricia Flanagan’s Preserved Fish had officially arrived.

Today the doors of the container opened up to an absolutely stunning interactive sculpture for the visitors of Swell Sculpture Festival. Tricia was present to introduce many of us to the experience that is Preserved Fish.

When you first enter there is a shipping crate that had a map and various postcards featuring fish. Tricia explained that each of these fish had been caught by fishermen around the world and the artist had enjoyed a meal made with the fish with each of them.

The surprises don’t stop as you go deeper into the shipping container where monitors show footage from the evenings with the fishermen and lead to a final space where drawers feature…

…the BONES from the fish shared during the meals – set in resin!

If you are visiting Swell Sculpture Festival from 14-23 September on Currumbin Beach there are even more surprises in Preserved Fish…I can’t tell you all of them though.

Do more than look at sculpture…experience it at Swell Sculpture Festival.

http://www.swellsculpture.com.au    http://pinterest.com/swellsculpture  @swell_sculpture

Let’s Get Digital

It is amazing the things you learn by just being quiet.

I had the opportunity to accompany the DARK NEON projection artists Alex Chomicz, Damien O’Mara, Jason Nelson & Mariam Arcilla on Friday while they discussed where each artists’ works would be presented along the Currumbin Beach.

There were times I wanted to put in my thoughts…ok a few slipped out but I tried really hard to just sit and enjoy the moment.

With the colours and movement of the DARK NEON art projected on different buildings, plants and even the grass…it was a time when sitting in silence and just capturing the moment on my mental camera was priceless.

You can experience the DARK NEON project at #Swell2012 along Currumbin Beach every Saturday during Swell Sculpture Festival.

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