THE Snowy Valleys received a major new cultural tourism experience with the opening of a Sculpture Forest within Bago State Forest yesterday.
An estimated 120 people attended the official opening of the sculpture park at Laurel Hill and Pilot Hill.
Batlow resident Anne Hallard was MC and spoke from the heart and “with her long relationship with the area, she welcomed this new phase in its existence.
“Amongst the many beautiful parts of the Snow Valleys, this divine forest was one magical place I regularly explored whether on foot or pony,” she said.
“My imagination was allowed to run free.
“As we walk this new trail today, we are not merely spectators; we are participants in a symphony of sights, sounds and sensations. “Each sculpture along the way is not just a static figure but a storyteller, whispering tales of this very special wilderness and the wonders within it.”
She mentioned and praised the artists, and all the different parts of the world they are from. “All the artists have poured their hearts and souls into crafting these master pieces , breathing life into raw materials to celebrate the essence of nature. Every sculpture embodies the harmony and resilience of our natural world.”
She said the trail was more than just a showcase of artistic prowess.
“It is a sanctuary for reflection, a haven for contemplation amidst the chaos of modern life.
“Let these sculptures serve as a reminder of the fragility of our ecosystems and the need for conservation.
“All the artists have poured their hearts and souls into crafting these master pieces, breathing life into raw materials to celebrate the essence of nature. Every sculpture embodies the harmony and resilience of our natural world.”
She said the trail was more than just a showcase of artistic prowess.
“It is a sanctuary for reflection, a haven for contemplation amidst the chaos of modern life.
“Let these sculptures serve as a reminder of the fragility of our ecosystems and the need for conservation.
“As you walk through this Sculpture Forest and Trail, let the beauty of it inspire you, the creativity awe you and the spirit of nature rejuvenate you.”
An addition to the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail, the new Sculpture Forest opened with a special family picnic day planned for local community and visitors at Pilot Hill.
Located in Bago State Forest at Laurel Hill and Pilot Hill, the Sculpture Forest offers a range of experiences at three very different sites:
– Two large sculpture installations at Laurel Hill, next to Batlow Road on the Snowy Valleys Way between Batlow and Tumbarumba,
– Three very different sculptures, including one by Batlow local artist Robyn
Sweeney, at Pilot Hill Arboretum, among historic plantings of a diverse
range of trees dating back to the early 1900s; and
– Eight sculptures (with more to be added) along the stunning, 1km Alpine
Ash Walk at Pilot Hill Arboretum
The new Sculpture Forest adds an entirely new dimension to the existing Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail, an experience that currently includes 38 sculptures across 150km in the towns of Adelong, Batlow, Tumbarumba, Talbingo, the hamlet of Tooma and the three Tumbarumba region vineyards with cellar doors.
The Sculpture Forest has been developed by Sculpture by the Sea in partnership with Forestry Corporation of NSW and the local community, in response to the Black Summer bush fires of 2019 – 2020, which had a significant impact on the region and included the loss of the much-loved Sugar Pines Walk and Pine Cathedral experience.
Originally planted in 1928, the Sugar Pines at Laurel Hill held a story of the Snowy Valleys’ rich history in forestry and pioneering. The new Sculpture Forest provides an opportunity for the Snowy Valleys community to come together to heal, build local pride and reinvigorate a sense of place alongside the newly planted Sugar Pines, while also providing an important boost for local tourism and hospitality businesses.
The initial 13 sculptures installed at the three Sculpture Forest sites include works by international artists Shen Lieyi (China), Václav Fiala (Czech Republic), Sean Henry (England) and Steinunn Thorarinsdottir (Iceland), as well as New South Wales artists Andy Townsend and Suzie Bleach (South Coast), Dale Miles (Loftus), Lorraine Connelly-Northey (Holbrook), Philip Spelman (Queanbeyan), Stephen King (Walcha), Robyn Sweeney (Batlow), and Akira Kamada (South Coast), alongside interstate artists Tony Davis (WA) and Clancy Warner (SA). To celebrate the opening of the Sculpture Forest, a family-friendly picnic bash was held at Pilot Hill Arboretum.
David Handley AM, Founding Director and CEO, Sculpture by the Sea and the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail said, “It has been a humbling privilege to work with the local community to develop the Sculpture Forest in response to the Black Summer Fires.
“Together with several new sculptures in the towns, this brings the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail to over 50 sculptures by artists from 14 countries around the world to create one of the most significant regional public sculpture collections in the world.”
“We look forward to welcoming even more visitors to the Snowy Valleys to see the artworks, most of which have been created by artists from Sculpture by the Sea.”
Former Mayor, current Snowy Valleys Councillor and strong Sculpture Trail advocate James Hayes said it was very lucky that the Pilot Hill Arboretum had survived the Black Summer Fires, and that he thought the Sculpture Trail was the most successful post-fire project.
“Granted I am a sculpture tragic,” he said.
“The Sculpture Forest, the newest addition to the Sculpture Trail will only enhance the visitors’ experience. It is all about renewal, recovery and betterment.”
The Snowy Valleys Sculpture Forest has been funded by the New South Wales Government. Additional funding has been provided by Forestry Corporation of NSW, government and not-for-profit organisations from the Czech Republic and Denmark, and private donations.
With thanks to Aqualand, the Principal Sponsor of Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi for gifting ‘Folly Interstice’ by Tony Davis for permanent public placement at Laurel Hill.
The Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail project is jointly funded through the Australia and the NSW Government’s Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund, under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
