aliey ball: Relief Sculptures

Birrarung (Yarra River) Mapping 2004

plaster, glass fibres, fortifier & redgum frame

5 x (120 x 70 x 6) cm
Purchased by the City of Stonnington as the feature artwork for the Malvern Library, High Street, Malvern.
Birrarung (Yarra River) Mapping focuses on a small section of the Yarra River (from Punt Rd to Gardiner’s Creek, just west of Glenferrie Rd), which forms part of the north border of the City of Stonnington. The aim of the project was to create bridges between, and celebrate, the diverse professions and communities that have a shared relationship with the Yarra River.
Birrarung (Yarra River) Mapping is an historical narrative, which surmises seven months research into the local geology, paleontology, native flora and fauna as well as indigenous aboriginal history of the Yarra River. The sculpture was created over the course of three months in the summer of 2003.
The work comprises five relief sculpture panels, which together create one large image. Over the last eight years I have explored relief sculpture processes using sands, clays and other earth materials, together with hand made, one-off moulds. The textured finish of the sculpture is a result of the making and casting process, with each of the panels being set directly into frames made from River Redgum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), which are indigenous to the area.
Birrarung (Yarra River) Mapping describes a number of indigenous flora and fauna studies. Amongst these are the Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris) and Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa). Most examples of indigenous Riparian Scrub mostly dwell within the water or at its edge. Amongst these are Water Plantian (Alisma plantago–aquatica), Leafy or Tall twig-rush (Chorizandra cymbaria) and Duckweed (Lenina disperma).
Much of the selected flora and fauna in Birrarung (Yarra River) Mapping were important to the Wurundjeri people as bush tucker. The gum of the Silver Wattle (Acacia dealbata) was eaten as a kind of sweetmeat as well as used to make glue. Parts of the Nardoo plant (Marsilea drummondii) were ground to make bread, while Spiny Headed Mat Rush (Lomandra longifolia) is a traditional basket and mat weaving material. Fish and eels of the Yarra River formed an important part of the diet of the Wurundjeri people. The Short Finned Eel (Anguilla australis), which is shown in the forth and fifth panel swimming upstream, travel up the Yarra River from as far away as the Coral Sea off Northern Australia.
Shells, Backbone & Edan (Northcote Integrated Health Commission) 2005
Private commission.
plaster, glass fibres, fortifier, steel wire & redgum frames
3 x (90 x 90 x 8 cm)

Pacific Blackduck 2005
plaster, glass fibres, fortifier & redgum frame
30 x 30 x 4.5 cm

Yabbie 2005
plaster, glass fibres, fortifier & redgum frame

30 x 30 x 4.5 cm

Trilobite (Paradoxides) 2003
Plaster, glass fibres, fortifier & metal frame