Newhaven Public Art Commission (2020)

The Newhaven Public Art Commission has been awarded to renowned Australian artist Geoffrey Bartlett for his proposed sculpture, Alpha.

Geoffrey Bartlett presented his proposal to the Community Working Group consisting of a mixture of local community members, arts professionals / experts and Council officers. After discussing the merits of all shortlisted artists’, the Community Working Group voted in favour of the Geoffrey Bartlett proposal.

In his presentation, Geoffrey spoke to Alpha and that this project would be a sculptural variation on a previous work. After reflecting on his previous sculpture, Geoffrey had seen poetic potential in the form he had created, so was excited by the opportunity to explore those ideas within the context of the Newhaven harbour setting. Geoffrey stated he would be fabricating this work with his own hands, making it a unique piece for the Newhaven community.

Geoffrey Bartlett is an established artist with an international reputation. He has been practicing professionally for over 40 years. His sculptures are poetic constructions made from robust metals. They are strong, elegant and durable.

Bartlett has undertaken public sculpture commissions for the National Gallery of Victoria, the City of Auckland, the City of Melbourne, the City of Newcastle, the Australian National University and Melbourne Docklands. He is represented in the National Gallery of Australia, the National Gallery of Victoria, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Parliament House Art Collection, Heide Museum of Modern Art and in many regional, university, corporate and private collections.

In 2015 McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery presented a major retrospective of Bartlett, titled 280205, spanning his forty years of work. In 2007 the National Gallery of Victoria presented a major exhibition of his sculpture from 1987 to 2007.

The community of Newhaven are soon to be the custodians of a significant work of contemporary Australian sculpture.

Background

The Newhaven Public Art Commission is scheduled for the 2020/21 Financial Year.

In line with Council's Public Art Sites and Themes Plan 2014-2024, the artwork should be site specific and represent the local area.

The project will be delivered in accordance with Council's Public Art Principles and Specifications for Public Art.