SCAPE is a major public artwork, commissioned by Entura for its five star, green rated premises at Cambridge near Hobart Airport. Created by Tasmanian artist John Vella working in collaboration with Scottish artist Stephen Hurrell in an international collaboration, SCAPE saw the artists designing the project on-line from their bases in Hobart and Glasgow.
The artwork comprises 165 highly reflective stainless steel poles. The work is around 5 metres tall, 70 metres long and articulates a vast, shimmering 3-dimensional topography. SCAPE is a distinctive landmark which engages commuters on their journey along the Tasman Highway as they travel to and from the airport.
John Vella holds a Diploma of Fine Arts with Distinction (1993) from the National Art School, Sydney, a Bachelor of Fine Arts (with first class honours – 1996) from the Tasmanian School of Art and a Master of Fine Arts (200) also in from the Tasmanian Schoo of Art. His work is represented in a number of private and public collections in Australia including ArtBank, the University of NSW and The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. He has been awarded 3 major competitive commissions through the Tasmanian Goverment Art Site Scheme and has received significant, competitive grants from Arts Tasmania and the Australia Council.
Vella lectured in Painting and Drawing at the Tasmanian School of Art from 1998-2000 and was appointed to the University as the Acting Head of Sculpture in 2005, becoming the studio’s permanent head in 2008. His works have been included in 11 solo exhibitions since 1994 and over 40 group exhibitions (since 1993).
Stephen Hurrel received his postgraduate diploma in Fine Art at The Glasgow School of Art in 1988 after completing his BA there. He has since exhibited nationally and internationally and has been commissioned for numerous site-specific artworks. Hurrell works with video, sound, sculpture and text to explore relationships between people and place. His work often connects with science and technology to explore and record interactions and tensions between nature and contemporary society. Aside from his gallery-based practice Hurrel produces commissioned works responding to specific geographic locations, in particular marine environments. He has recently completed a short film based around ‘naming and modes of orientation and navigation’ in relation to the island of Barra.
Tricky Walsh and Mish Meijers – The Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery
Public art
Dunn Place, Hobart
Tim Whiteley – Jordan River Child and Family Centre
Public art
21 Cheswick Crescent, Bridgewater
Tim Whiteley – Jordan River Learning Federation
Public art
Green Point Road, Bridgewater
Tim Whiteley – Ambulance Communication Centre
Public art
12 Brisbane Street, Hobart
Tony Woodward – Big Picture School
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Timsbury Road, Glenorchy
Futago – Rose Bay High School
Public art
Kaoota Road, Rose Bay
Futago – Royal Hobart Hospital Emergency Department
Public art
48 Liverpool Street, Hobart
Marcus Tatton – Kingston High School
Public art
Kingston High School, Kingston View Drive
Aden Narkowicz and Elizabeth Barnett – Alleuere
Public art
Princes Wharf No. 1, Castray Esplanade
John Vella – Coles Old World
Public art
246 Sandy Bay Rd, Sandy Bay TAS 7005
GASP! Glenorchy Arts and Sculpture Park
Galleries, Public art
Glenorchy Art & Sculpture Park (GASP!), Hobart
Kristina Nichols – Memorial for Past Adoption Practices
Public art
Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, Queens Domain
Josh Foley – Taroona High School
Public art
Taroona High School, Taroona