Wollongong Council has commissioned artist Col Henry to create a public sculpture for the Grand Pacific Walk – exact location to be announced.

In an October 14 media release, council said the artist’s work would be installed on either side of the viewing platform on stage 1 of the walk, between Stanwell Park and Coalcliff.

But following residents’ objections, including a rash of comments on social media, Council has backtracked.

“Wollongong City Council is investigating the suitability and appropriateness of a proposed site,” a council spokesperson told 2515 at press time.

“At present, no final decisions about the location for the sculpture have been made.” 2515 understands the sculpture is now tipped to be installed at Moronga Park in Clifton.

A well-known sculptor, Col Henry mostly works with marine-grade stainless-steel – one of his famed creations is Turtle Dream, a giant steel turtle installed 8m underwater in the Whitsundays.

For the Grand Pacific Walk, Col envisions two hand-formed towers, with reflective elements at the top that will respond to the environment and weather conditions.

The works will have space for some form of inscription or simple image to “Tell The Story”, to reveal the “Vibe of the Place”.

This is where you come in.

Col would love community input: he envisions aspirational words or short phrases, sketches, or petroglyphs to mark the time, and the human connection.

Q&A WITH SCULPTOR COL HENRY 

What was the inspiration for this design? 

I chose to call the work‘ Reflect’. This is to reflect the ocean environment, the natural environment and the wildlife, but there is a lot more to the word ‘reflect’. The Latin origin of reflect means to bend, or persuade. The modern translation: ‘to mirror, to give back, to make manifest or apparent, or to think deeply or carefully about’. The polished stainless-steel will reflect the mood of the moment/day, whether it be dull and grey, bright and colourful, or dark or light. The reflections will also show the viewer, how they fit in the Place and Space, even if it is a multiplied and distorted image. Of course, the community are the caretakers of this work, and are encouraged to have input into the final design of the work.

Did gymea lilies come into it? 

I was drawn towards the bird life in the first instance, but quickly realised there were so many important features, flora, fauna and the built environment … The chosen theme was to delve deeper into the site and community, and present a lasting abstraction of life on the coast.

Where else in Wollongong can readers see your work? 

I have a major work in Osborne Park near Wollongong boat harbour, called Sea Stories, a smaller work outside the Community Centre at Warrawong, and recently was commissioned to create a community-inspired work installed on the waterfront park [at Berkeley], called Sea Shanties.

What’s the lifespan of an outdoor sculpture like this? 

Stainless-steel is robust, very long-lasting, with a low requirement for maintenance. I suggest that the work will physically last for many hundreds of years. The Council asks for a 15-to-25-year lifetime, and can replace the work in the future if the fashion changes.