And that makes three: A wooden carving in Gillies St, the silo tribute and the new metal sculpture at REDHS means there are three significant tributes to the Azure Kingfisher in Rochester.
Stage one: Brett Shotton and REDHS corporate services manager Colin Wellard will be the two men responsible for completing the art project, which will feature the Azure Kingfisher sculpture and four murals.
Azure Kingfishers are generally 18cm tall and weigh about 30 grams, quite ironic considering the rather significant artistic tributes to the tiny Australian bird that now dominate three prominent Rochester locations.
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The latest addition to the collection of works featuring the egg-laying vertebrate is a five-plus-metre-tall metal sculpture, which has landed front and centre on the lawns of the Rochester Elmore District Health Service.
It arrived at the REDHS site last week, an almost 12-month-long wait because of COVID-19 complications ending with its almost overnight appearance on the site.
The sculpture will be just as spectacular at night as it is during the day, with LED lighting attached to the structure.
A monstrous silo mural painting of the tiny Australian native, a two-metre-tall wooden park-based sculpture on the corner of Moore and Gillies Sts and the recently erected metal sculpture are grandiose versions of the tiny brightly coloured creek dweller.
Callan Morgan, the artist who was commissioned to complete the sculpture, is a friend of silo artist Jimmy Dvate and came highly recommended to the Rochester Business Network committee responsible for the Azure Kingfisher’s commissioning.
REDHS has provided not only the location for the new tourist attraction, but is also providing the power supply for its after dark illumination.
The metal kingfisher was just one component of what REDHS corporate services manager Colin Wellard said would be a fitting tribute to the artistic theme of the town.
Four murals will soon accompany the sculpture, when final planning is completed for the health service’s art precinct.
The murals, which were all part of the Rochester Mural Festival, will be placed around the kingfisher.
Rochester Rotary Club has donated some stands, which will hold the murals in place.
Mr Wellard and REDHS technical expert Brett Shotton will be the pair responsible for completing the design of the art space.
“The murals will need to fit in to our planning,” Mr Wellard said.
“This is just stage one of the project, but it will make for a spectacular addition to the hospital site.”
He said REDHS chief executive officer Karen Laing had always planned for the health service to play a part in the community’s artistic flavour.
Meanwhile, plans are being presented to Campaspe Shire for the erection of two more mural shelters, to extend further along Moore St
The extension will provide enough space to hang 10 winning murals.
Mural committee members are lobbying for an extension of the pathway to include the entire length of the art display.
New arrival: REDHS staff celebrated the arrival of the Azure Kingfisher sculpture last week, which is stage one in the development of an art precinct on the lawns of the health service.
