New Strand sculpture influenced by North Queensland’s past and way of life

The latest piece of long term community art on The Strand has people asking if it is anything from Stranger Factors, War of the Worlds or wholly out of this entire world.

Townsville City Council has set up Christopher Trotter’s sculpture, Foreigner, soon after it gained the $90,000 acquisitive prize category at last year’s Ephemera: Seaside Sculptures.

Community and Cultural Progress Committee Chairperson Ann-Maree Greaney claimed the sculpture has captured the interest of the general public with a large amount of men and women halting to speculate what recycled resources ended up employed to build the artwork.

“It is proving to be a bit of a conversation starter, and it unquestionably has extra to The Strand practical experience,” Cr Greaney explained.

“Council is happy to be ready to assist arts and society in the metropolis, and Ephemera is 1 of those situations the residents get at the rear of and love.

“Last 12 months, far more than 180,000 individuals arrived to The Strand more than the 9 times that Ephemera was on, and we are very pleased to be capable to insert this piece of art to will work previously on screen alongside the foreshore.”

The artwork has been completely installed on the beach around The Strand Fountain at the stop of Oxley Avenue.

Artist Christopher Trotter stated the sculpture was a nod to Townsville’s past and North Queensland’s atmosphere and way of life.

“There are subtle hints associated to the area all all around the artwork,” Mr Trotter reported.

“The human body is motivated by a box jellyfish and made from an previous hydraulic tank to signify Townsville’s involvement with the mining sector.

“The propeller on best of the sculpture is in reference to the armed service presence in Townsville, and the artwork is created to appear like an introduced or international species to mirror the biosecurity threats North Queensland faces.

“Different people today have been ready to discover with distinctive features of the sculpture, and it is excellent to see a broad cross-portion of the group have really engaged with it.”

Entries will be open up quickly for future year’s Ephemera, and updates will be available on Council’s internet site and social media.