Musical inspiration for permenant installation

A life-size steel sculpture crowned the winner of last year’s inaugural A View to Asia exhibition was permanently installed at Cable Beach earlier this month.

The Intergalactic Band by Kimberley sculptor Brian Saunders depicts musical figures carved from recycled leaf springs to reflect the joys of music and the role it plays in Broome’s arts and culture.

Mr Saunders, who has been an artist for 12 years, started using car springs for his work during his time as a tour operator in Kununurra.

His masterpiece was selected by judges during the exhibition which was launched as an exciting new addition to last year’s Shinju Matsuri Festival.

Shire of Broome workers installed a concrete platform for the sculpture on the lawn area near Zanders last Tuesday morning.

Community development manager Suzie Haslehurst said council had agreed to have a pad fitted so that the winning piece from each successive year could be installed prior to the next upcoming festival and exhibition.

Shunju president Chris Maher said Mr Saunders’ work captured the town’s love of music.

“Brian has very cleverly matched his mediums of the car leaf springs to the theme of happy and joyous music because you can see them lightly swaying in the wind…it kind of brings that piece to life,” he said.

“It certainly represents all the things that people love about that iconic, cultural music heritage of Broome.”

Mr Maher said A View to Asia would once again feature as a big part of the 2015 festival.

“Last year was our inaugural year; we had eight local artists that had pieces in,” he said.

“So this year we’ve got about six from Perth coming up and a greater range of local artists so it will be a bigger and better View to Asia.”

The Shinju Matsuri Festival will be held from August 28 to September 6. For more information visit www.shinjumatsuri.com.au.