One of the world's major Sculpture
Symposia is on a mountain top in the desert north of Broken Hill and is an attempt
to recreate the thirty thousand year old stone carving tradition beyond the
Darling. Twelve of the finest sculptors from all over the world have each worked
on a monolith of the finest Wilcannia Sandstone so sited to be visible for over
one hundred kilometres. The sculptors came from Bathurst Island, Georgia, Damascus
and Mexico, Broken Hill, Katoomba and Gosford. They worked 14 hours a day, 7
days a week and completed 4 months work in 8 weeks, all by hand. The Symposium
was supported by Broken Hill City Council and businesses and many people gave
enthusiastically of their
skill and equipment to erect the stone. The project was also a rediscovery of
one of the world's finest stones, Wilcannia Sandstone, which had not been used
since the beautiful Courthouse was built in 1880. The blocks, up to 14 feet
high, were discovered in the dessert and 52 tons transported approximately 250
km to the mountain top 10km from the City Centre by volunteer truck and crane
operators. They weigh up to 8 tons each. The erection of the monoliths on the
mountain top by the people of Broken Hill without cranes was en epic of skill
and strength worthy of the Ancient Egyptians and the result is a rival to the
Dolmens of Carnac. It became apparent very early that the high accreted sandstone
would prove technically difficult. Cold chisels failed to dent the stone and
a public appeal was put out for tungsten carbide tools. Over 200 former miners
responded, turning over dusty coners of back yard sheds seeking old tools. The
arrangement of stones is a double colonnade which defines a special flow from
the Pinnacle Mountains to Fred Hollow's resting place at Bourke and provides
one of the most spectacular views in the area.
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Horse Head (Sculpture at the front)
Facing the Day and the
Night (Sculpture at the back)
A collective work with input from Catherine Mould,
Badger Bates and Herbert Shiner. The work is a monumental head that at dawn
looks towarde the sun; behind the dove of the night symbolises the night and
the darkness. To one side the Wedge Tail Eagle symoloises spirituality, height,
strenght and freedom. On the other side a natural place from which to admire
the landscape. The hands are those of the sculptors.
Eduardo Nasta Luna, Mexico City
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Moon Godess (Sculpture
at the left)
I worked around the rock discovering within it the moon. I recalled an Aboriginal
legend of a woman who steals the moon and places it in a dilly bag. You can
see the legend in the sculpture.
Conrad was born and raised in the United Kingdom and has worked in a variety
of sculptural mediums. He was heavily involved in teaching technique to the
visiting students and an additional work carved at the sidte now resides at
the Broken Hill Entertainment Centre.
Conrad Clark (U.K.)
- Katoomba Australia
Thomasina (Sculpture at the right)
A water bird neck upright catching a fish
The sculpture is named after Thomas's daughter born during the Symposium. Sadly
the child died several weeks later of viral meningitiscausing Thomas to return
to Bathurst Island early. The sculpture might be viewed as a metaphor for the
child's brief life. Thomas enjoyed having a good time.
Thomas Munkanoma - Tiwi, Bathurst Island
...
Bajo El Sol Jaguar (under the Jaguar Sun)
The sculpture is based on the music of Jarge Reyes "Bajo El Sol Jaguar". Duality: Sun and Moon; Night represented by the star Venus, mouth of the Jaguar that takes the sub at night to protect it. Day represents bu the circle created by the sun.
Antonio has a degree from the National School of Painting, Sculpture and Printing, Mexico City. He is Aztec Indian and a personal friend of the Pesident of Mexico.
Broken Hill can be seen in the distant