Big ‘roo sculpture offer for Inverleigh

INVERLEIGH artist Mark Cuthbertson is donating his two giant kangaroo sculptures to the community for proposed permanent display in Inverleigh’s Lawson Park.

The quirky cast concrete and steel marsupials are about 3.5 metres high and Cuthbertson originally created them for the Biennale of Australian Art in Ballarat several years ago.

With support from the Inverleigh Progress Association, the local artist has offered to make the whimsical pair of kangas available to become a permanent fixture in the roadside park.

“It’s very much playing with the idea of Australiana and how we see ourselves,” said Cuthbertson.

“At the moment we’re presenting the proposal to the community to see what the feedback is.

“The Inverleigh Progress Association is really supportive and the council is really supportive.”

However, Cuthbertson said that before the large critters can be permanently installed in the park they must first go through the council’s formal approval processes and get the green light.

“I’m donating them to the council and it’s now just a matter of ticking off the process,” he said.

“The works were constructed for the Biennele of Australian Art in Ballarat about eight years ago and since then they’ve just been in my studio, so I thought there was an opportunity to donate them for the community.

“I build a metal armature and then back-fill with concrete. They’re on a big 16 milimetre steel base plate and they’re incredibly durable.”

Inverleigh Progress Association secretary Keith Windle said the association is keen to see the proposal go ahead.

“We’re looking forward to the prospect of having them on show,” Mr Windle said.

“The general feeling is that people are in favour of it and that all sorts of people could enjoy them.”

The association is currently inviting comments, suggestions or questions about the proposal which can be emailed to [email protected].