Weather Signs

Artist : Stephen King

Material : Local Yellow Box & Steel

Year Created : 1996

Special Note : Donated by Artist with support from Walcha Council

Artist's Location : Walcha

Type : Sculpture

Size : 2.5 x 3.0 x 6.2m

In 1996, Walcha Council was approached by Stephen King, a local farmer and prominent Australian sculptor, to collaborate with him to create a fountain sculpture for McHattan Park in the centre of town. The decision to accept his offer and install Walcha's first sculpture lead to the suggestion by Council to form the Walcha Arts Council to facilitate an ongoing public art program. A plan was conceived and drawn up by the Walcha Arts Council and was adopted by Walcha Council into its 1998 Management Plan. The concept came to be known as the Open Air Gallery.

THE ARTIST:

Stephen King is a prominent Australian sculptor and farmer living near Walcha, NSW. He is probably best known for his work in Sculpture by the Sea both in Bondi, Sydney and Cottesloe WA, where he has been invited to exhibit many times since its inception in 1997. In 2013 he was awarded the Macquarie Group Sculpture Prize (the main prize) for his work ‘Fallout’.

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STEPHEN KING'S INFLUENCE ON WALCHA'S PUBLIC ART

It should also be noted that Stephen King, from inception to the present day, has been instrumental in the creation and growth of Walcha's Open Air Gallery (OAG) of Sculptures and Artworks. It is largely through his incredible level of generosity, of both time and contribution, that Walcha has this magnificent asset which seriously 'punches above its weight'.

Boasting to have the most public art per capita in Australia with approximately 1 Sculpture for every 50 of its' citizens.

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WHAT DO THE CRITICS THINK of WALCHA'S OAG?

Once described as one of Australia's most art-friendly towns by one of Australia's most notable art critics, John McDonald. McDonald has also cited Walcha, alongside Brisbane, as the destinations in Australia who do public art well.

Not a bad feather in Walcha's cap with a population of only around 3,000 in their shire!!