NINE local artists have been commissioned by Noosa Council to produce sculptural installations along the foreshores of Tewantin and Boreen Point for this year’s Floating Land event.
Seven of the artists have been directly involved in previous Floating Land events and will produce works in the Reflect category and two artists have been commissioned in the Re-imagine category.
Together, the artists’ works will highlight the connections between art, the environment and people, linking these elements at the waterfront of Lake Cootharaba and the Noosa River at Tewantin.
The sculptural works will be installed and on display for various periods during the seven-week period of Floating Land 2015, which will be held from 27 August to 18 October.
Councillor Tony Wellington said the bi-annual festival has become a much-respected “green art” festival, since its inception in 2001.
“With its emphasis on outdoor sculpture and installation works, plus its celebration of the natural environment, the festival really is accessible to everyone,” he said.
Cr Wellington said it was difficult for the committee to select artists from the wide range of proposals submitted.
“We are blessed in Noosa and across the Sunshine Coast to have so many exceptionally talented and creative individuals,” he said.
“Certainly Floating Land is a magnificent showcase for that talent. There is something for everyone in this year’s event, from interactive soundscapes to striking sculptural forms. Some of the works on display will require direct participation of the local community, particularly school children.
“Personally, I am really looking forward to this 8th iteration of the Floating Land arts festival.”
The 2015 festival program will include an exhibition of temporal artwork in the environment, a seven-week retrospective exhibition at the Noosa Regional Gallery showcasing images from Floating Land events and works created as part of the 2015 artist-in-residence program at local schools, plus the Re-imagine Forum at The J, as well we workshops, presentations and activities.
The artists chosen for this year’s event include Kari and Ross Annels, Lyndon Davis, Leah Barclay, Rene Bahloo, Kris Martin, Elizabeth Poole and Simon McVerry who will work in the reflect category, plus Lisa Brummel and Julie Wall who were selected to work in the re-imagine category.
More information about the Floating Land festival can be found at www.noosa.qld.gov.au/floating-land.
