Mining and nature meet in artwork

Published on 29 July 2019

Work is now underway by Melbourne-based artist Robbie Rowlands to bring the Riddiford Arboretum Sculpture Symposium to life.

The Symposium received $200,000 in funding through Create NSW, with the project tender awarded to Robbie during January's Extraordinary General Meeting of Council.

His work on the Symposium will involve interpreting the significance of Australia's first green belt, and the ground-breaking work of Albert Morris, the Barrier Field Naturalists' Club and the Zinc Corporation to green our city.

Robbie has been working out of TAFE's metal fabrication unit over the past few months and is aiming to create a series of sculptures incorporating recycled rock bolts and scrap metal donated by local mining companies.

He has engaged with a variety of local groups including the Arboretum's 355 Committee, mining companies, community groups and artists to source inspiration for the work, which will draw on natural forms inspired by the arboretum site.

Robbie previously served as an Artist In Residence in Broken Hill, and worked closely with the West Darling Machine Preservation Society to re-curate and reinterpret their display using projection, sound, and sculpture. 

The current project is expected to be completed later in the year.