THE ART - Canberra 100

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ICARUS BY JAN BROWN—PETRIE PLAZA, CIVIC, CANBERRA THE STORY OF THE ART WORK AND ITS ACQUISTION This sculpture, by Jan Brown, a renowned Canberra artist with an international reputation, stands imposingly along the walkway of Petrie Plaza, Civic. It became available to the public through the intervention of a Canberra gallery owner. It depicts the story of Icarus, from Greek mythology, and his attempt to escape from Crete by means of wings that his father constructed from feathers and wax. His pride led him to ignore instructions not to fly too close to the sun, and the melting wax caused him to fall into the sea where he drowned. This story of human folly is remarkably depicted in the four works that make up Icarus, and that Brown created between 2004 and 2006. The four bronze figures are part human and part bird showing the transition from a robust form in Icarus 1, to broken and pitiable appearances in Icarus 2 and 3, and then, in Icarus 4 a transformation into an almost complete bird form, perhaps one who now can fly well and has learnt the lesson—to beware pride. In 2008, the Beaver Gallery in Deakin, an inner suburb of Canberra, hosted an exhibition of sculptures by Brown, who loves the bird and animal life of the region. The exhibition included bird bronzes and the Icarus group— a smaller version than the one we see outside the David Jones store. As mentioned earlier in this resource, a Public Art Panel had been established by the Chief Minister. The panel members were impressed by Brown’s sculptures, especially with the Icarus work and made the suggestion that Icarus be scaled up to make it suitable for a public art work in Civic. This project was commissioned under the Percent for Arts scheme. Icarus was made by what is called the lost wax method, an ancient technique that was first developed by the Chinese in 3000 BC. Very little about the fundamental process has changed. The basic idea of the process is to make a wax positive of the shape that is to be cast. The wax is then molded with a refractory (heat resistant) material. The mold is then heated to melt away the wax. Molten metal is then poured into the cavity that the “lost wax” has created. This way, large hollow sculptures can be made without shrinking and cracking. The whole process of creating bronze sculptures is collaborative, with the artist working closely with foundry colleagues. The challenging process of scaling up Brown’s original Icarus sculptures was done at the Australian National University (ANU) sculpture workshop and the actual bronze casting at the Meridian Foundry in Melbourne. Overcoming considerable difficulties, large clay models were made at the ANU, silicone-coated, and plaster was cast for each part of the whole sculpture. These were transported to the Meridian Foundry in Melbourne, and members of the Meridian Foundry assisted in the various stages from mold making, wax chasing, bronze casting, welding and application of patina and coating. It was then transported back to Canberra, where the artist, the Redbox Design group who had constructed the plinth, and others, managed the difficult job of installing the sculpture. It is a thoughtprovoking presence in Civic, Canberra, watching over workers and shoppers as they pass by. 10 THE ART OF BRINGING THE ARTS TO CANBERRA
Image courtesy of Ben Wrigley GOING FURTHER •• Investigate the process of making bronze sculptures. Jan Brown uses ciment fondu, a relatively inexpensive, endurable casting material that is suitable for works being made in a small workshop. What are other methods/processes of casting bronze? What are the impacts for the artist and the buyer? •• Research the life and works of Jan Brown, a Canberra resident. The previously mentioned, and famous, kangaroos at Nerang Pool, in Commonwealth Park, are her work. She was invited by the National Capital Development Commission in 1979 to make a sculpture for Commonwealth Park—Kangaroos was the result. •• Go on a tour of sculptures and installations around Canberra. On February 20, 2012 The Canberra Times included In the City Magazine/Arts Trail Souvenir Liftout containing an excellent article, by Douglas Fry and Miled Achi, called Arts Trail, about public art and in particular 60 public art works around Canberra. There is also a map and information about, and photo of, each art work by Andrew Babington. Icarus is on this Arts Trail. •• Visit the Sculpture Garden at the National Gallery of Australia. •• Research the life and work of Henry Moore, a famous English Sculptor, who taught Jan Brown at the Chelsea Polytechnic School of Art, London, and find his work in Canberra. •• Visit Canberra Museum and Gallery, where some of Jan Brown’s drawings can be found. •• Visit Strathnairn Gallery which has a metal sculpture foundry—Stockdill Drive, Holt. •• ANU—Sculpture Workshop. SECTION 1 11
Page 1 and 2: THE ART OF BRINGING THE ARTS TO CAN
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Page 5 and 6: THE EDUCATIONAL LANDSCAPE THE CENTE
Page 7 and 8: GOING FURTHER ART CHALLENGES OUR PE
Page 9 and 10: GOING FURTHER MacDonald’s paintin
Page 11: Great Hall Tapestry (1984 - 88) Art
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Page 17 and 18: It’s time. MOST SECRET PRIME T IM
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Page 23 and 24: FOUR BEAUTIFUL SEASONS, TWELVE FANT

THE ART - Canberra 100

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