If you go down to the (Cottesloe) beach today you’re in for a big surprise …though maybe not if you’ve ever been to Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe in the past. It’s on!
Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe began in 2005, making this it’s 19th year. Staged on the beautiful Cottesloe Beach in Western Australia, this year there are pieces from over 70 different artists, from 12 different countries including Czech Republic, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland and the USA.
WHEN GO TO
It is estimated that 220,000 people will attend the event this year. The majority of these people visit the exhibition during the weekends. So, if you don’t like crowds or want the best views, go during the week. I can highly recommend going at sunset when the light is just right for those perfect Instagram photos.
NIGHT TIME EXHIBITION
If you do go at dusk hang around as this year a few of the pieces are lit up at night. One of those is the installation Between Sky and Earth (Exchanging Messages) by renowned Japanese artist Takeshi Tanabe. Situated at the end of the groyne it will illuminate the sky every evening with a beam of light reaching up to the heavens.
Deanne Neilsons’ Do You Realise? which is made up of hundreds of bottle tops is another to check out during the day and at night when it is lit up. (See image below).
So too Denise Peppers’ Money Plant and Kristof Kinteras’ My Light is Your Light.
A COUPLE MORE TO LOOK OUT FOR
It’s always hard to pick favourites, but here are a couple of others that I found particularly thought provoking.
- Colossus that Rebelled from Ukraine artist Egor Zigura. Seeing this piece with members of the public sitting around in bathers just reminded me how lucky we are.
- Benoit from French artist Bruno Catano
- The Little Boy and the Whale – Biindiirrwoorr by the Boodjar Bidi Youth Art Group, a collective of art students based in Guildford WA.
GETTING THERE
The Cott Cat is a free shuttle bus service that runs between Cottesloe train station and Cottesloe beachfront. The shuttle will meet every train from Cottesloe train station on the Perth to Fremantle line between 10.30am to 6.00pm daily for the duration of the exhibition and will return to the station from Cottesloe beachfront at 15 minute intervals. I highly recommend this as parking can be tough.
ALLOW ENOUGH TIME
Make sure you factor in enough time to see as many of the pieces as you can. If you go there thinking you’ll have a quick look in between other commitments I guarantee you’ll be late for whatever your next appointment was.
BOOKLET
Make sure you pick up a booklet from the information tent. It has a heap of information about each piece. We played a game of “So you think you’re an art critique.” We’d check out a piece and take a guess at the meaning behind the piece. Then consult the booklet to see how close we were. Spoiler Alert … we weren’t.
FREE TACTILE TOURS (Lotterywest Access and Inclusion Program)
If you or someone you know has access issues I encourage you to take up the offer of a Tactile Tour. The tours are run by trained guides. All access tours last for approximately one hour. Bookings for Tactile Tours are essential. Please email your booking requirements to jacqueline@dadaa.org.au
Weekday Tours 10.15am &
11.30am Tuesday 7 – Friday 17 March 2023
Evening tours 6pm Thursdays 9 & 16 March 2023
Weekend tours 10.15am & 11.30am Saturday 11 March 2023
*Auslan Interpreted Tactile Tour 10.15am Wednesday 15 March 2023. Bookings essential.
ACCESSIBILITY/PARKING
There are four existing ACROD parking spaces on Marine Parade opposite Sea View Golf Club. And there are five additional ACROD parking spaces during exhibition only, outside Indiana’s.
SCULPTURE INSIDE
If you’re not into the beach there’s also an exhibition inside at the Sea View Golf Club. This exhibition has miniature versions of the pieces seen on the beach. Apart from being a cute reminder this exhibition provides a unique opportunity to purchase sculpture by emerging, mid-career and established Australian and International artists.
DONATE
Don’t forget to donate. Even $5 will help. Did you realise that the artists have to foot the bill to make their piece? Thanks to the Federal Government RISE fund they do receive a small amount, however they would quickly get used up on transport costs to get the piece to the beach. The more we donate the higher the likelihood of the exhibition being on again next year.
Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe runs from 3 to 20th March 2023, so don’t wait too long or you’ll miss out.
For more information go to Cottesloe: – Sculpture by the Sea
Keep an eye out for video about the winners on The Ponder Room TV
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