Giant sculpture pays tribute to indigenous women

I have no intention of going anywhere near the US while it is being run by Agent Orange. 

I am, therefore, most unlikely to find myself in South Dakota. 

If I did, perchance, I would probably want to see this giant stainless steel sculpture, which was highlighted this week as a hidden gem by a former colleague. 

It is called Dignity and was created by artist Dale Lamphere to honour the women of the Sioux Nation.

The 15-metre plus artwork gazes across the waters of the Missouri River. 

During the day, the South Dakota winds brush the diamonds in her star quilt, causing blue shades to twinkle in the sunlight. At night, she stands illuminated. 

It is said the more than 100 blue diamond shapes move in the wind "like an Aspen leaf".

The Dignity statue is described as "a stunning combination of art and history". 

You'll find her located on a bluff between exits 263 and 265 on Interstate 90 near the small town of Chamberlain (takes a quick look at Google Maps). 

The giant piece honours the cultures of the Lakota and Dakota people and is a highlight of the Native American Scenic Byway.

Norm and Eunabel McKie of Rapid City announced their gift of Dignity to the state of South Dakota in 2014, in honour of the 125th anniversary of South Dakota statehood.

"Dignity represents the courage, perseverance and wisdom of the Lakota and Dakota culture in South Dakota," says the artist. 

"My hope is that the sculpture might serve as a symbol of respect and promise for the future."

The US could certainly use a little dignity right now. 

Watch this space: the writing is on the wall

The Travelodge Resort Darwin has undergone a dramatic transformation with the addition of a two-storey high mural by artist Lisa King as part of this year’s Darwin Street Art Festival.

The mural honours Danggalaba Kulumbirigin woman Mililma May, who has worked with the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency and is an advocate for indigenous people.

King, an Australian multi-disciplinary artist and large-scale muralist, recently put the finishing touches to her portrait of Mililma at the busy Cavenagh and Lindsay Street intersection in Darwin’s CBD.

Festival producer Jo Shearn said Mililma was a fitting subject for the Travelodge artwork.

“Malila and Lisa spent time together on Larrakia land prior to the mural being started in order for the work to be a truly genuine representation of Milima’s strength and power as a young Danggalaba Kulumbirigin woman," Shearn said.

"She generously gifted us a beautiful poem to accompany the portrait.”

​​​​​​​Travelodge Resort general manager Lucy Ockleston said the team was thrilled to play a small part in honouring Mililma and looked forward to unveiling another mural in the not-too-distant future.

“When the Darwin Street Art Festival team approached us to partner again this year, we knew we had two perfect walls to not only showcase the artwork but to give the festival fantastic exposure,” she said.

“With Lisa King’s artwork complete, we are very much looking forward to unveiling our second enormous six-storey mural sometime in the future.

“Watch this space… quite literally.”

For more information on the Darwin Street Art Festival visit www.darwinstreetartfestival.com.au/

 

Brewery paints a pretty picture

Shelter Brewing Co in Western Australia has commissioned renowned local artist Ian Daniell to paint the biggest indoor mural in the south west region.

 
Daniell, known for painting life-sized ocean life, is currently working on a 200-square-metre mural of a breaching humpback whale on the walls of Shelter’s second floor lab and office.

The mural, Breach, will be completed during the ninth annual Margaret River Region Open Studios, to be held from September 10-25.

Daniell said that he was thrilled to collaborate with Shelter and pay homage to the humpback whale.

“Fun fact - the humpback whale has the largest appendage - as in arms and legs, and in their case, flippers - in the animal kingdom, so it’s great to have a wall big enough to paint a life-sized version,” said British-born Daniell.

“With humpback whales being protected, we’re seeing more of them during migrations, you could say the humpback is making a comeback, and this mural is a colourful celebration of that.

“The backflip breach position of the humpback is true to what you’d see if you’re out on a boat or whale watching from shore.”

Shelter is a sponsor of Margaret River Region Open Studios, the largest event of its kind in the southern hemisphere. It enables everyone to access art as artists open their home studios inviting art lovers in to chat about art, see their work, and/or see them at work.

“Our partnership with Margaret River Region Open Studios is Shelter’s biggest collaboration to date in terms of investment,” said Paul Maley, general manager of Shelter.

“We’ve increased the space of the office and brew lab wall to accommodate Ian’s mural and we love what he’s doing - it’ll be a talking point, as all good art is, and add colour to an otherwise white wall.”

Get an early peek at the mural at Shelter Brewing Co, on the Busselton Foreshore.

Shelter brews six beers: Summer Sour, India Pale Ale, Pale Ale, Extra Pale Ale, Lager, Red Ale and a cider, along with seasonal brews (current season beer is the Bonfire Stout).

Image: LewisFrench

MadFish goes for a whole new milestone look

There are two trains of thought about winery label revamps. 

The first is that a new look revitalises a brand and encourages first-time buyers to take a punt. 

The second is that regular buyers will not recognise the brand in its new livery and opt to buy something different. 

MadFish Wines, part of the Burch family-owned Howard Park group, has decided to mark its 30th year with a complete refresh. 

MadFish Wines has just released its new range complete with a new look. 

The new label artwork designed by local artist Kyle Odgers-Hughes draws inspiration from the rough and wild south west coastline of Western Australia that MadFish Wines calls home.

MadFish has used turtle artwork by local artist Maxine Fumagalli as its signature for three decades. 

"We saw this milestone as an opportunity to refresh our MadFish wine labels with a new look that emulates an authentic evolution of our brand – modern, positive, local, and influenced by our love for the south west coastline and the lifestyle it inspires," the Burch family said. 

Each label pays homage to the grape varietal and the land from which the fruit is grown in Margaret River and the Great Southern. 

The new range comprises MadFish Chardonnay, MadFish Shiraz, MadFish Sauvignon Blanc Semillon and MadFish Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot, Madfish Rosé and MadFish Moscato 

What are your thoughts?