Sculpture on the Scarp exhibition returns

ESCAPE the pace of the city for the peace of the Perth Hills with the Sculpture on the Scarp outdoor exhibition returning.

Internationally-renowned West Australian artists, including Ron Gomboc, Sean van der Poel, and Johannes Pannekoek, will transform the historic Darlington Railway Station next weekend in the unique tree change exhibition.

The exhibition is curated by award-winning Sculpture by the Sea artist Mikaela Castledine and judged by Jina Lee, Angela McHarrie and Mark Parfitt.

Pannekoek said his work was inspired by living along the scarp and Sculpture on the Scarp was an opportunity to see organic sculptural forms in their home environment.

“My weathered steel sculpture was inspired by the natural environment and the changing courses we take in our lives,” he said.

“I have changed my career path several times and it can be daunting and there is a steep learning curve which involves having to change habits and attitudes.

“But it’s healthy. We live, we learn, we change.”

Sculpture on the Scarp is an extension of the popular two day Darlington Arts Festival which has been running since the 60s, making it one of the longest running community events in WA.

The Festival was the brainchild of the late Robert Juniper, Brian McKay and Richard Woldendorp and started as a fundraising event for the ailing local bush fire brigade.

Each year the art exhibitions big names in the art world; Ric Burkitt, Neil Elliot, Alastair Taylor, Vince Austin, to name a few that will be showcased at the Darlington Hall.

This year’s retrospective exhibition is artist and photographer Darrell Thornton Hick who grew up in the bush, by the beach in Scarborough and loved fossicking for flotsam in windy weather.

Thornton first visited the Darlington Arts Festival in 1965 after returning from art school in Sydney.

The Darlington Arts Festival and Sculpture on the Scarp runs November 2 and 3.