Abandoned cars in Airds riverbed to be transformed into sculpture by Michael Tuffery; image courtesy MCA C3 West.
Who said the temporary can’t be permanently altering? This is the premise at the core of C3 West, an ongoing, long-term project spearheaded by the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) which commenced in 2006. Partnering with business and non-arts government organisations in Greater Western Sydney, the project sees contemporary art give voice to local issues, and this month unveils two new projects:
C3 West: Transforma, by New Zealand-based artist Michael Tuffery, is a large-scale project to retrieve dumped cars from the Upper Georges River in Airds, Western Sydney and transform them into an artwork.
On 22 February, ten cars were pulled from the river and brought to Tufffery’s temporary outdoor sculpture studio in the Airds Bradbury Central carpark, where visitors are welcome to come and see him at work over the next seven weeks as he transforms these wrecks into a sculpture – an oversized bust of a kangaroo.
Two barbeques will be fitted into the sculpture’s bonnet and boot, which will be fired up for a launch party on 12 April.
Tuffery said: ‘A key project aim is to raise awareness of the relationship between river health and behaviours such as littering, illegal dumping, and arson; and to stimulate stronger community stewardship towards the Upper Georges River, it needs to be looked after.’
C3 West: Transforma is a collaboration between the MCA and Campbelltown City Council and coincides with the 25th anniversary celebration of the first ever clean up – Clean Up Sydney Harbour.
C3West Curator, Anne Loxley said: ‘This highly ambitious project is the result of Michel Tuffery’s extensive engagement with the people of Airds.’
Acclaimed British artists Ivan and Heather Morison have created C3 West: Sleepers Awake, a community performance program featuring Western Sydney’s largest-ever temporary public artwork, which the MCA will premier in Australia in partnership with Western Sydney Parklands Trust.
For nine nights, from 17 to 26 May, local entertainers have been invited to perform at Bungarribee Park under Morison’s searchlight-like illuminated orb, which will float up to 80 meters off the ground.
The spectacular sculpture will transform the 25-hectare Bungarribee site, and with the invitation of local talent to complete this artwork, a sense of embodiment of community through contemporary art will be realised.
Manager of Development and Strategy at Western Sydney Parklands Trust Yolanda Gil said: ‘All types of entertainers, large or small, casual, formal, musical, social, corporate, theatrical, schools, celebratory, avant-garde, amateur, professional, ‘carnivalesque’, circus, talks, poetry recitals are sought to be part of this historic event.’
Sleepers Awake signals the transformation of a vacant site in the parklands into a recreational park and community hub. Loxely said, ‘It shows the power of art to reinvigorate the natural landscape – even if only temporarily – and to celebrate the idea of community.’
Dates for the Diary:
- 24 February – 10 April: Visit Tuffery’s outdoor studio from 11am–4pm, Monday – Saturday.
- Saturday 12 April: Tuffery’s sculpture will be unveiled in a party at the Airds Bradbury Central car park with a live performance, projections, local DJs and an exhibition of woodblock prints by local youth. 4.30–7pm
- Follow the progress of Tuffery’s project and join the conversation by using #TransformaC3W
- 17 to 26 May: Live performance from 5.30- 7.30pm with Sleepers Awake at Bungarribee Park, Western Sydney Parklands.
- For more visit www.bungarribeeprecinct.com.au/sleepers-awake
