Published: 28 June 2021

“It’s big – four metres by two – but no more than a metre high,” says Lindsay Usher about one of two new sculptures to be installed at Bay Pavilions.

Made of cast aluminium, the surface texture of Rockpool will echo Eurobodalla’s eroded sandstone headlands. At night, lights will rise and fall, reflecting the tidal ebb and flow of the nearby Clyde River estuary.

“Art works best when you can interact with it directly,” Mr Usher said.

“Shaped like an infinity loop, Rockpool is particularly tactile and makes for an interesting place to sit.”

Rockpool will sit adjacent to Bay Pavilions’ main entrance in its western forecourt. A second artwork, Emergence, will feature in the theatre forecourt.

Mr Usher said Emergence referenced the mangrove wetland environment near the precinct, with nine ‘eggs’ cracked open to reveal wildlife imagery made from backlit laser-cut steel.

“Set in clusters, the eggs complement Bay Pavilions’ architectural design without detracting from the building and lit up at night, representing the theatre lights inside,” he said.

Rockpool and Emergence will be created by artists Cathy Drew and Fenella Richards respectively, at an estimated cost of $238,318, which will be met from within the overall Bay Pavilion project budget. Mr Usher said he was delighted with the quality of artwork Bay Pavilions attracted.

“We had nearly two dozen expressions of interest from top-shelf artists. There was a lot of discussion to whittle those down to five short-listed artists, guided by our Public Art Advisory Committee,” Mr Usher said.

“The final two chosen sculptures align perfectly with our ideas of place and community. They are large enough to create an impact while remaining intimate – a real talking point for the precinct.”

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