The community told us what type of artwork they'd like to see in Peterson Street Reserve, and we have been on the hunt to find a fabulous artist to interpret the brief and design the new sculpture. Read more about what the community said in the full Community engagement summary report.
Carla Gottgens was chosen from a stellar line up of artist submissions and has been commissioned to bring the community brief to life. Carla Gottgens is no stranger to Bayside, having also designed the much-loved ‘Bayside Ripple’ next to the playground in Dendy Park South, affectionately known as the Dr Seuss playground.
About the new sculpture
Inspired by the community’s aspirations to have a sculpture that is fun, durable and reflects the usage of the Reserve, successful artist Carla Gottgens has created ‘Half time’ to be installed at Peterson Reserve in Highett in mid 2022.
Half time is a joyful celebration of the Aussie sporting tradition to serve cut oranges during youth sporting matches to refresh and quench the thirst of busy players.
“Half time is a tribute to all the families who have braved early Saturday mornings, late winter evenings, rain, hail and shine to watch their children or participate themselves in team sports,” said artist Carla Gottgens
“To shout from the sidelines, wear the team colours, wave the team flag, attend to scuffed knees, bruised bodies and dashed hopes at a spot in the final……… Half time embodies community and team spirit.”
The bright orange segments will be made from cast aluminium with rind dimples, kernels and flesh patterns painted onto the surface and will measure up to 1.2 metres in width. The sculpture is totally interactive and designed to be sat on, climbed on and leaned on. The oranges are jumbled together in a haphazard way, much like you would find them in a Tupperware container at a sporting match.
- gather input from local community on what type of public artwork they would like at Peterson Reserve
- incorporate community feedback into an Artist's Brief that is sympathetic to the uses of the reserve
- undertake Expressions of Interest from local artists to create an artwork
- commission and contract an artist to create the artwork
- install and maintain the artwork.
Public art enhances our urban environment and provides people with the opportunity of experiencing visual culture in their daily lives.
The Public Art & Heritage Collection Policy provides for the commissioning of visual art works of a permanent or ephemeral nature to enhance the municipality’s civic spaces and the urban environment.
The purchase and location of public art is also included in the Program of Capital Works in the Bayside Arts Strategic Plan 2018-2022 adopted by Council in October 2018.
The ideas you submit in this engagement will inform the artists brief that will go out to public tender later this year.
The public art selection panel will use this information to inform their decision making and final selection. The panel includes a member of the Bayside Arts Board.
