Renowned artist to head Sculpture Symposium

Published on 18 February 2019

A path winds through the Riddiford Arboretum

Renowned Melbourne-based artist Robbie Rowlands will return to the city next month to begin preparations for the Riddiford Arboretum Sculpture Symposium.

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

Mr Rowlands 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.

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.

He will travel to Broken Hill in late March to undertake community engagement before commencing work at the Arboretum.

"It's important that we recognise and celebrate the work undertaken to try to mitigate the impact of dust and erosion on Broken Hill, and this project will give us an opportunity to do that," said Deputy Mayor Marion Browne.

"I think Robbie is a great choice to head this project, his work with the West Darling Machine Preservation Society showed his amazing ability to engage with locals and capture the essence of his subject matter.

"I'd encourage everyone with an interest in art, the Arboretum, or the city's history to keep an eye out for the consultation dates next month and come along and have input into the project."