Art News

Show Off!

With only three weeks to go before the Thursday Plantation East Coast Sculpture Show closes, it's well worth taking a drive to Ballina to see this stunning show.

Sculptors are invited to use the grounds of Thursday Plantation as one big canvas, whether by placing their artwork in amongst the forest and botanical gardens or by doing an installation out in the open field.

Along with the sculptures that make up the permanent collection there are 69 new pieces this year, created by artists from all over Australia.

The sculptures are all uniquely individual, ranging from the work 'Bromeliads' - a zany collection of brightly coloured flowers made from recycled soft drink bottles - to 'Red Army', a group of huge fire ants made from rusted metal and creatively set inside the forest.

The Thursday Plantation East Coast Sculpture Show is on display until January 31, 2004. As well as browsing through the grounds visitors can also enjoy a coffee in the plantation's treetop cafe and discover the many benefits and uses of tea tree.