Art News

A Tea Tree Spectacular

Nestled in amongst the rainforest and botanical gardens at Thursday Plantation in Ballina is a magnificent collection of weird and wonderful new sculptures – the results of this year's East Coast Sculpture Show.

Along with the sculptures that make up the permanent collection are 69 new pieces, each creatively set in the beautiful gardens that surround the large tea tree plantation.

A number of local artists were awarded prizes in this year's show, including Lynne Adams from Mullumbimby, who shared in the $12,000 acquisition prize with four others for her work 'Bromeliads' – a zany collection of brightly coloured flowers made from recycled soft drink bottles.

Suvira McDonald and Ruth Park also shared in the inaugural $1,500 Beach Hotel Local Artists Prize, while Wendy Rolls from Alstonville was presented with a $200 highly commended award.

Like Lynne's flowers, many of the artworks in this year's show carry a strong environmental message, although you don't have to be a greenie to enjoy the huge diversity of artwork on display.

"I think there's art in this year's show that will delight and impress everyone," curator, Merran Morrison, said. "There's an amazing number of sculptures, many of which kids will just love."

The real beauty of the Thursday Plantation East Coast Sculpture Show is the interesting way the sculptures have been set in the rainforest, with different works popping up in nooks and crannies all over the place. Rather than being confined to the four walls of a gallery, the artworks become living parts of the forest, and discovering each of the sculptures is an adventure in itself.

The Thursday Plantation East Coast Sculpture Show is on display until January 31, 2004, so there's plenty of time to take a trip to Ballina, browse through the grounds and enjoy a coffee in the treetop cafe. Thursday Plantation is on the Pacific Highway, just north of Ballina.