International Projects     <      >

 

Forest Phoenix

Mundaring
Western Australia

Phil was invited by Jude van der Merwe who worked for Mundaring Arts Centre, in partnership with Claremont School of Art, Midland TAFE, The Forest Hills Activity Centre CALM and the Shire of Kalamunda, to design and orchestrate the making of this 10m high Phoenix fire sculpture with associated smaller fire sculptures. Diane subsequently made large sculptural lanterns with the students from Midland Tafe.

We worked with many artists on the project - chiefly Stuart Elliott, Michele Hogan, Richard Marito, Alan Clark and Peter Dailey and their students. It was a big community project also involving a lantern procession, dance performance, and a choir led by other artists and performers.

The Forest Phoenix was sited on a temporarily disused airstrip in the bush. It was a magical and rewarding experience both in the building and the final burning of the work, which won an Australia Day Community Award.

© Diane Gorvin Philip Bews 2020