A startling new art sculpture has been erected at the gateway to a country New South Wales town … and it’s sparked quite a lively debate!
The controversial Water Cloud structure now dominates the main street of Dorrigo, inland from Coffs Harbour, despite some locals arguing that it just doesn’t reflect the nature of the town.
The Dorrigo area is well known for its national parks, its waterfalls, and its wet weather. The average annual rainfall is 2,000 millimetres, and the aluminium curves of the new sculpture form the shape of a never-ending stream of water that lights up as the sun sets.
The ABC reports that the $300,000 artwork was gifted to the town by long-time local, Nick Wright, and has been in the planning stage for eight years.
Back in 2014, the local council adopted a community public art plan to ‘enliven’ towns across the Bellingen Shire, prompting Mr Wright, 82, to step up with a donation as a way of giving back to the community.
However, the artwork – designed by West Australian sculptor Stuart Green – has just gone up and has reportedly ‘ripped the town in half’.
Local Kerry Miller told the ABC that there are people who are disgusted, and people on Facebook are yelling at each other about it.
“Really, more options should have been explored before we made a firm decision,” she said. “My husband drives a truck … he often carts heavy machinery and was able to use this street before, but now with this sculpture in the way, he’s not able to access the street any more.”
The ABC reports that when Bellingen Shire Council ran a poll during the initial community consultation, nearly 80% of responses were against its installation with negative feedback suggesting it would be an ‘eyesore’ and ‘impractical’ for the main strip.
However, after it was revealed the initial online portal had received responses from people who didn’t live in Dorrigo, the council asked Mr Wright to conduct a second survey himself. That survey returned 177 votes for the artwork and 174 against.
Mayor Steve Allan maintains the work went through extensive processes before final approval.
“It is fair to say with any piece of public art, it would have its opposition, but when you think about it, it really does speak to the beautiful natural attributes that Dorrigo is known for including our beautiful waterfalls,” Mr Allan told the ABC.
Despite the controversy, some locals believe the sculpture will encourage tourists to stay longer when visiting the town.
Local Sara Hankin said the new landmark added a spark to the town.
“I think it’s fantastic!” she said. “It’s an old town, has been old for a very long time, so it’s just the change that we need.”
And sculptor Stuart Green was keen to emphasise the positives.
“I know change is always a bit scary and not everyone is in favour of it, but when you see it in actuality, it is this exciting and different focal point in the centre of town”, he told the ABC.
It is true to say that not all new structures that go on to become icons are universally welcomed when they are first erected. The Sydney Opera and Coffs Harbour’s Big Banana are just two examples.
Looks like a giant calamari ring.
Dorrigo is famous for the large numbers & size of the ticks in the surrounding rainforest.
I’ve been walking and picnicking in the grounds of Dorrigo National Park and other rainforest areas around Dorrigo hundreds of times in the last 52 years and I’ve never had a tick nor seen one on anyone I’ve been with when in the park. I wonder why you would spread silly rumours which may prevent people from visiting this lovely location. Yes, ticks exist in many locations on the mid north coast and extend inland where the weather is warm and humid and there is wildlife. You can get a tick walking down the path to the beach too.
Initially I was going to say ‘what a load of rubbish”, but then I noticed it was designed by one of my fellow West Aussies. So now I say absolutely brilliant. Consider yourselves fortunate that we (in WA) have put some “style” into your community 🙂
I am not a fan.
It’s like anything new & beautiful always controversial. If you people don’t wish to have it, than please donate it to me at my place.
A local Council with too much spare funds to waste.
It looks to me to be an out of shape Halo from some one who has fallen out of favor. To try and compare it to the Opera House or the Big Banana is drawing a very Long Bow.
Well I guess my comment about a disfigured Halo was out of place.
The artwork itself is well designed and interestingly engineered, however, the position it has been placed in is impractical, for example, trucks carrying machinery cannot drive that street anymore, plus the height and large poles greatly deflect from the attributes of the overall artwork which is based on floating water vapor. The work would have looked much better supported by shorter poles and set in a park, perhaps at the entry to the town.
We thought it was a calamari