Moggs Creek sculptor to showcase work during arts trail

A SCULPTOR based in Moggs Creek is among the hundreds of local artists preparing to exhibit their work and demonstrate their skills as part of this year’s Surf Coast Arts Trail.

Working under the title “Adrift”, Peter Day is known for his “artivist” works that bring together art and activism with powerful purpose, drawing inspiration from Victoria’s southern coast where he has lived for decades.

Day collects the debris that washes up along the Surf Coast to create his statement sculptors which comment on the relationship between the natural and man-made worlds.

Colourful masses of marine rope might be woven into the 3D shapes of the fishes they threaten, plastic found along the shoreline might be intricately formed into the sea turtles they debilitate or choke, and bull kelp and flotsam might be assembled on the beach to represent the barracouta that once flourished in the area.

“My work uses sculpture as a medium to inform viewers of the human impact on ecology and environment and the loss of wildlife habitat,” Day said.

“It’s about inspiring positive change.”

This year will mark the first time Day has opened his Moggs Creek studio to visitors as part of the Surf Coast Arts Trail, an experience he said he was looking forward to.

“It’s always interesting meeting people and talking about creative processes,” he said.

“My experience is that a lot of people like the story behind the work, so that is good to share.

“I plan to be working away on a bit of stuff across the weekend, and of course, I’m looking forward to selling some works.”

The trail will take place next weekend between August 3 and August 4 spanning private studios, community spaces and art hubs across the region, and will feature a wide variety of professionals and hobbyists working in mediums such as painting, textiles, jewellery, ceramics, glassware and performance.

Surf Coast Shire councillor Gary Allen said the 2024 Arts Trail was shaping up to be another extraordinary weekend, with strong artist registrations promising an immense diversity of work for people to admire and enjoy.

“We have hundreds of artists ready to share their inspiration and talents, from the hinterland to the coast, truly enhancing the Surf Coast Shire’s reputation as one of Australia’s most creative regions.

With a just over one week to go before the trail begins, Cr Allen encouraged the community to download this year’s program to “see what will be on offer and start planning their trail days”.

For more information, to preview the work of the artists involved in the trail and to download the program, head to surfcoastartstrail.com.au

To learn more about Peter Day, head to his Instagram page @peter_day_adrift