The City of Canada Bay commissioned renowned contemporary artist Caroline Rothwell to produce the artwork which features six bronze sculptures based on the figure of an eight-year-old child cartwheeling at the water’s edge and on the grass area.
“We have been working with Caroline Rothwell, a nationally and internationally recognised artist, and we are thrilled with this wonderful artwork, and the impact it has on the foreshore,” Mayor Tsirekas said.
“We are certain that Cartwheeling Youngster will become a treasured landmark in Rhodes, drawing visitors to the foreshore and delighting the community for years to come,” Mayor Tsirekas added.
To incorporate local meaning and connection to the sculptures, Council put a call out to Concord West Primary School for students to donate a pair of well-loved shoes. A pair of sandshoes donated by Infants School student Ellen Hemmes was chosen to be cast and ‘worn’ by the sculptures – with Ellen being woven into local history!
Curator of the work Amanda Sharrad said the innovative artwork will provide a memorable experience for people using the foreshore.
The sculptures took 16 months to create and we welcome them to Rhodes!