Friday, October 31, 2014

Skywhale to titillate Newcastle - ABC Online


The enormous hot-air balloon, weighing half a tonne and measuring 34m by 23m, caused a stir when it was unveiled last year as part of the Centenary of Canberra celebrations.


It turned out to be extremely divisive, with some people loving it while others were horrified.


There were criticisms that it was just plain ugly, but most of the objections were to the sculpture's multiple mammaries.


Skywhale's sculptor, Patricia Piccinini, has said the design was inspired by the evolution of whales, and the idea that they might have inhabited the air rather than the sea.


Newcastle's new cultural director, Liz Burcham, has revealed that Skywhale will be tethered over Civic Park on November 28, in conjunction with an exhibition by Patricia Piccinini.


"Skywhale is coming to Newcastle," she says.


"She'll be tethered in Civic Park, she only just fits.


"I love Skywhale, but I'm surprised that people are a little bit conservative and a bit concerned about Skywhale having teats.


"She is glorious, she is beautiful."


Ms Burcham has been in Newcastle three months, after being appointed to oversee the city's art gallery, museum and Civic Theatre, as well as Fort Scratchley and City Hall.


Her appointment came after the sackings of gallery director Ron Ramsey and Future City director Judy Jaeger over the handling of another controversial artwork, the giant egg of Black Totem II.


She admits that it's a huge job and she wondered at first if one person could do it all.


"But what I saw was an extraordinary opportunity," she says.


The new cultural director says the day-to-day running of each institution will be handled by individual managers.


She sees her role as building a foundation for culture to grow in Newcastle.


And she's already been impressed by the enthusiasm of local audiences.


"I'm absolutely blown away by the appetite of the Newcastle community," she says.


"In so many cities and regional towns across the country, that's the biggest issue."


For the past 11 years Ms Burcham has been running an arts organisation and venue in Brisbane.


Liz Burcham spoke to Carol Duncan on 1233 ABC Newcastle Afternoons.



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