The event is an innovative visual spectacular, exploring the artist\u2019s unique stories and social commentary through large- and small-scale sculptures and performance art over the course of three weeks.
\nSince its inception in 2007, it has grown significantly, drawing crowds from across the state, and more recently from across the country, to become one of the Great Ocean Road\u2019s largest ongoing cultural events.
\nAudiences can wander the Sculpture Trail, take part in a wide range of workshops, see artists\u2019 talks at their sites, view performance art projects and more throughout the festival.
\nEvent curator Julie Collins is the woman tasked with transforming the town into an artist\u2019s canvas each year. \u201cThis year we\u2019ll see themes of environment, social justice, the body and self, war, asylum seeking and other more subtle themes throughout,\u201d she said.
\n\u201cThese sculptors hold a mirror up to society and in some cases can make the audience feel uncomfortable.
\n\u201cIn other cases, they can draw attention to such issues through their art, empowering the audience to consider, discuss and empathise, allowing us to reflect on some of the most important issues of our time.\u201d
\nThe biennale aims to attract established art-lovers, as well as catch the attention of new audiences who come across the free festival by accident.
\nCollins said this combination of audiences and their disparate perspectives creates a challenge for the artists, as well as new social angles for the town.
\n\u201cSome come to see the sculptures while others just happen upon it as coincidence and each person\u2019s experience needs to be considered by the sculptor. This is what makes sculpture so exciting.
\n\u201cLorne is the perfect place for an event like this. It\u2019s quite an iconic town so many people are nostalgic about it.
\n\u201cIntroducing sculptures on this scale creates a new symbol for transformation, and shows the town in a completely different light.
\n\u201cThe township itself has really embraced the arts and the support for the festival is at 100 per cent. That\u2019s something we really appreciate and it\u2019s one of the major reasons for the festival\u2019s continued success.\u201d
\nLorne will be showcased to its full potential this year, with the introduction of \u201cMajor Projects\u201d at three signature sites \u2013 the pier, the foreshore and Erskine River near the Swing Bridge.
\nThree projects have been selected: Josh Muir \u2013 Pier, Mark Douglass \u2013 Foreshore, and Aaron Robinson \u2013 Erskine River.
\nEach will function as a punctuation point for the Sculpture Trail and all will have a lighting element to bring the sculpture to life at night.
\n\u201cI had this idea to fund artists properly to create major projects for these significant sites,\u201d Collins said.
\n\u201cSculptures are generally quite expensive to create, and it\u2019s been great to put out the call to artists to create fully funded projects on a large scale.
\n\u201cThe night element was also important. A lot of people stay overnight in Lorne and I personally love walking the trail at night, so we thought we\u2019d really expand into evening attractions.
\n\u201cBefore maybe six out of 40 pieces were lit up, but now there are many more and certainly there\u2019s never been anything of the scale of our Major Projects. It\u2019s going to be very new and very exciting to see.\u201d
\nAnother new feature this year is the inclusion of artworks in Wye River. Sculptures will be placed in the town to extend the festival\u2019s tourism reach and help support the communities of Wye River and Separation Creek in the wake of the LorneJamieson Track fire.
\nMore support for the fire-affected region came this week with Channel Nine\u2019s Today Show broadcasting live from Lorne yesterday (Wednesday).
\nLorne was chosen as a broadcast location to update viewers on how the region is recovering from the fire, which occurred over the Christmas and New Year period.
\nThe broadcast included a live performance by Missy Higgins, dog races, a hamburger-making competition, giveaways and more.
\nThe Lorne Sculpture Biennale is on from Saturday March 12 to Sunday April 3.
\nFor more information and the full event guide, head to lornesculpture.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The event is an innovative visual spectacular, exploring the artist\u2019s unique stories and social commentary through large- and small-scale sculptures and performance art over the course of three weeks. Since its inception in 2007, it has grown significantly, drawing crowds from across the state, and more recently from across the country, to become one of […]<\/p>\n