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The sands of Currumbin Beach will again be transformed into Queensland’s largest outdoor art exhibition, with the world-renowned ‘SWELL Sculpture Festival’ returning from September 9 to 18. Showcasing interactive, engaging and incredibly thought-provoking sculptures from 55 Australian and international artists, including sculptors from Colombia and New Zealand whose works range from the miniscule to the monumental, created by the artists using a wide range of mediums.
More than 250,000 visitors are expected to engage with this year’s outstanding selection of art, such as a 10.5metre wide giant inflatable turtle, oversized Scrabble words created from recycled timbers, and three 1.6metre masquerade masks made from stainless steel chain. Other impressive standout sculptures include a colony of 100, 2metre high ants made from galvanised wire, beach deck chairs that stand 5metre high, and a large pearl necklace that is 5metre wide, created from stainless steel and LED lighting.
The 2016 artist line-up includes: International artists Emma Anna (Colombia), and Tim Elliot & Kate Millington (NZ). Queensland: Kirsten Baade, Tessa Bergan, Matthew Bird, Antone Bruinsma, Glenn Barry & Neville (Torry) Torrisheba, Andrew Cullen & Helensvale High School, Rebecca Cunningham , Karl de Waal , Tom Emmett , Guiseppe Filardo , Erica Gray, Monte Lupo , Patricia Hoffie & David Sawtell, Katie Hooper & Derek Hooper, Sara Irannejad, Shelly Kelly, Alicia Lane, Wayne Markwort, Lisa Martin, Kris Martin, Scott Maxwell, Dion Parker, Holly Pepper, BJ Price, Leisa Russell, Vanessa Stanley, Christopher Trotter, Mike Van Dam, John Wilson, Gregory Windsor, and James Worth. New South Wales: Lynne Adams, Pamela Lee Brenner & Johannes Muljana, Daniel Clemmett, Lauren Gray & Steven Ng, Dave Hickson, Jules Hunt, Alex Polo & Michael Dowling, Potts & Jim Blower, Greg Quinton, Joe Stark, Indra Stephenson, Clare Urquhart, and Nick Warfield. Victoria: Clayton Thompson and Ben Carroll. Western Australia: Georgia Morgan.
This year’s selection of artists will be contending for awards valued at more than $32,000, including the SWELL Sculpture Award, the Currumbin Beach Vikings SLSC People’s Choice Award and the Currumbin RSL Kids’ Choice Awards.
The 2016 ‘SWELL Sculpture Festival’ will present; free to the public, a full program of live entertainment, kids’ activities, artist talks, masterclasses, twilight walks, yoga experiences and more and is open all hours.
Now in its 14th year, the 10-day festival is instrumental in engaging the community in a vibrant cultural dialogue as artists from Australia, New Zealand and South America display thought-provoking works highlighting a range of social, environmental and contemporary issues.
SWELL Sculpture Festival
9 to 18 September, 2-16
Currumbin Beach, Queensland
#SWELL2016
John Cox, The Race
Photograph: TerenceKearns.com
