Mount Gambier council approves ‘iconic’ blue artwork amid backlash

“Is it April Fools’ Day?” An SA council has voted to spend $130,000 on a “bold” piece of public art … but the locals are furious.

The proposed concept of the "bold and ambitious" piece designed to give Mount Gambier its own "iconic" artwork in the city's CBD. Picture: City of Mount Gambier/Huna Studios.

A “huge chewed piece of blue bubblegum” … or an iconic piece of art for Mount Gambier?

Blue Lake locals have been quick decry their council’s decision to spend $136,250 on a “bold and ambitious” artwork intended to elevate the city’s artistic profile.

The council on Tuesday night approve additional funding for its Beacon Art project, under which a big, blue, marsupial-like sculpture will be installed somewhere in the city in an effort to create a local icon. The initial budget was about $80,000.

Images of the sculpture and news of its approval were met by extensive criticism from Mount Gambier locals on social media, with majority expressing distaste for the design and frustration council had given money to a project they felt could be better spent elsewhere.

“This is terrible, we don’t need something like this – we have fantastic natural icons that Mt Gambier is known for. An absolute waste of money,” one person said.

“I approve of public art in public places when they add to, tell the story of, or interpret a site artfully. This beautiful heritage building is not the place, this piece does not tell a coherent story, nor does it interpret the building or its history. So that’s a NO from me,” said another.

Other comments called it a “huge chewed piece of blue bubblegum” and asked “is it April Fools’ Day?”

The proposed concept of the "bold and ambitious" piece designed to give Mount Gambier its own "iconic" artwork in the city's CBD. Picture: City of Mount Gambier/Huna Studios.

“I love art and think it can definitely be a tourism draw to an area,” said another. “Such as Millicent and their murals and sculptures. It’s a cohesive ‘theme’ and they do add not detract from the areas they are placed. This blue blob is like a bumper sticker on a vintage Rolls Royce. It’s just not the right match/vibe in this instance. Quite out of place.”

Mount Gambier local Mike, who preferred not to say his surname, said he’d contacted several city councillors to express his disapproval and was told he wasn’t the first.

“One of them got back to me and said they’d had nothing but negative feedback about it – their phone had been rung off the hook and their inbox blowing up,” Mike said.

“I just assumed that the council would listen to the community consensus and choose not to go forward with this horrible statue. I don’t under how a decision can be made when the public is so blatantly opposed to it.”

Mike said he rejected the sentiment public artwork was meant to be controversial and a conversation starter.

“Some of the feedback I got was that art is meant to challenge, but what I say to that is no – public art should be aesthetically appealing to the majority because we’re the ones that have to live with it.”

Mike agreed with other locals took issue with the possibility of the sculpture being installed out front of the city’s city hall, saying that it would detract from the historic beauty of the buildings.

“It’s ghastly, it doesn’t fit the vibe of the town or region at all,” Mike said.

At Tuesday night’s meeting, Mayor Lynette Martin acknowledged there had been much discussion within the community about the concept since it was released in the council’s agenda.

The recommendation to fund the project was carried with five councillors voting in favour of the motion, two against. One councillor was an apology.

An additional recommendation was made that council consider not erecting the artwork in front of the Town Hall.

Alternative locations will be explored and presented to the council at a further date.

The creators, Huna Studios, said the artwork was inspired by the marsupial megafauna that roamed the region thousands of years ago.

MORE TO COME

Originally published as Mount Gambier council approves ‘iconic’ blue artwork amid backlash