Volume One - Pages 77 to 108 - Canberra 100

TOUCH: Sculpture and the Land
THROUGHOUT MAY
10 MAY (KEYNOTE AND BIG ISSUES/BIG TALK LECTURE)
10 – 12 MAY SYMPOSIUM
Canberra’s public sculptures are a national highlight. Sculpture in all its forms plays a
prominent part in Canberra’s cultural landscape. Sculpture collections, site specific
commissions, sculpture gardens and parks, public and private collections are a source of
community pride, occasional controversy, and an attraction for tourists.
The TOUCH: Sculpture and the Land program celebrates Canberra’s public sculpture and
the people involved. The project canvasses the conversations and ideas around some of the
issues associated with sculpture commissions. The National Gallery of Australia and local
visual arts organisations—Australian National University (ANU) School of Art, ANU Drill Hall
Gallery, Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMAG), Canberra Glassworks and the Strathnairn
Art Centre are involved. Their events present a variety of approaches to sculpture with
visiting artists-in-residence, exhibitions, new commissions, walks, talks and tours of existing
collections. Acton Walkways will encourage people to see themselves in new spaces and is
organising scenic sculpture walks linking the city to the lake via the ANU Campus, NewActon
and Canberra’s Street Arts Trail. A high-profile event for TOUCH is an International
Symposium at the National Gallery of Australia.
Building on the theme SCULPTURE: Space and Place, the symposium will present national
and international perspectives as a context for discussion about sculpture in Canberra. Held
10-12 May, with keynote by Vivien Lovell, sculpture and public art in all its forms will be
discussed.
Since its inception, Canberra has established an impressive record of commissioning public
sculpture. Associated with the Australian War Memorial (AWM) in the 1930s, came the
decision to develop ANZAC Parade with its series of large-scale commissioned sculptures
commemorating major theatres of war and the subsequent development of a Sculpture Park
adjacent to the AWM. In the 1950s, the ANU established a policy to develop an integrated
environment in which architecture, landscape design and sculpture all complement each
other. This involved the incorporation of commissioned art works as part of campus building
developments with the first sculpture, Gerald Lewers’ ‘Reclining Figure’ 1953 at the entrance
to University House. Today, the ANU collection includes 60 site specific sculptures. Since
2001, the campus also boasts an International Sculpture Park embracing the Old Canberra
House precinct, extending across grassy slopes and open woodlands to the shores of Lake
Burley Griffin.
In 1958 the National Capital Development Commission (NCDC) was set up, and a program
to provide works of art as an integral part of its building and urban development plans was
established. The first NCDC commission for a work in a public place was given to Tom Bass
in 1959 for the statue of ‘Ethos’ in Civic Square. The policy of associating works of art with
the construction of new buildings continued until 1988, when the new ACT Government
continued this approach. It established the ACT Public Art Policy, resulting in an impressive
Street Arts Trail.
The establishment, in 1975, of the Canberra School of Art (now ANU School of Art) with its
Sculpture Workshop and visiting sculptors-in-residence, added profile to sculpture energy
and activity in Canberra. In 1982, an important landmark was the opening of the National
Gallery of Australia (NGA) and its Sculpture Garden, presenting significant sculptures in an
Australian bushland setting. In 1988, the opening of the new Parliament House showcased
art and sculpture collections in and around the extensive buildings and grounds. Opened
in 2010, the recent extension to the NGA has continued its policy to focus on sculpture
with a new garden setting. The James Turrell SkySpace commission is a major attraction.
Since 2000, the private sector has become very involved, with Canberra CBD, NewActon,
ActewAGL and Canberra Airport all active in commissioning impressive sculptural works as
part of their developments and enhancement of the city.
The TOUCH: Sculpture and the Land program celebrates Canberra’s national reputation as a
City of Sculpture.
Image: Commissioned by Actew AGL in 2010 to celebrate its 10 th anniversary. ‘The Journey’ by Robert Foster.
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