Town Entry Statements
Entry statements create a strong sense of place and welcome to communities. The help to enhance and announce arrival.
I have designed several entry statements for cities and shires in Western Australia, with more on the way.
I work closely with my clients, sharing ideas and valuing the input of community members when developing site-specific designs.
I maintain communication throughout the design process with the aim that the community can take ownership of the final artwork.
My designs are robust and durable. I create entry statements which are eye-catching and clearly announce visitors’ arrival in town.
Corten and stainless steel contrast beautifully, enabling features to standout even where lighting is not available. The earthy quality of the Corten weathering steel sits well in the Western Australian environment.
My entry statements are designed and made in WA using locally sourced materials and trades. I support local fabricators in the manufacture of my works.
Dumbleyung is a Wheatbelt town situated south-east of Perth. It is home to the nearby Dumbleyung Lake, scene of Donald Campbell’s world water speed record in his boat, Bluebird in 1964.
The Shire of Dumbleyung were seeking to update their entry signage and were keen to create an artwork which would provide both a highly visible statement of arrival and a photographic opportunity for visitors to the town.
My design for Dumbleyung is a bold, striking and earthy entry statement celebrating the local wildlife of the nearby lake.
The sculpture stands at over 3.5 metres x 6.8 metres and is constructed form Corten steel boxes. The Australian Shelducks are laser cut from stainless steel to contrast with the rich tones of the Corten. The 3D stainless steel letters are individually mounted.
I have designed three entry statements for the town of Hyden in WA’s Wheatbelt. They can be found announcing arrival at each of the roads into town.
The sculptures commemorate the centenary of the establishment of the town.
The curving layers of Corten and stainless steel are designed to represent the stripes on the nearby Wave Rock.
These robust and highly durable entry statements are each 5.4 metres long and 1.5 metres high with individually mounted, boxed stainless steel letters.
My entry statement for Karlgarin was designed to celebrate the establishment of this tiny Wheatbelt town. The entry statement helps to acknowledge this community in its position off the highway.
The shape of the sculpture represents the claw of a local freshwater crayfish or ‘gilgie’. The town of Karlgarin is famous for its annual gilgie races. The laser cut wheat design celebrates the local farming community.
The artwork is constructed from Corten and stainless steel. It is lit internally using solar powered LED lighting for increased night-time visability.
This entry statement announces the suburb of Murdoch Chase in Perth. Road realignment works lead the local community to seek a wayfinding sculpture to help visitors and acknowledge arrival in their suburb.
The work is made from a series of overlapping Corten and stainless steel boxes featuring a laser cut liquid amber trees and falling autumnal leaves, such as those planted throughout Murdoch Chase.
Working with the City of Fremantle and the Fremantle Surf Life Saving Club, I designed a way-finding sculpture to help visitors locate the entrance to the Club.
Based on a surf rescue board, the artwork is made from 40mm thick aluminium sheet. The design elements are water jet cut to allow light to penetrate. The edges and surface details are finished with a router to create gentle curves which are smooth and safe to touch.
The surfboard entry statement was then painted with bold yellow two pack marine paint for a lasting finish close to the sea.
The stainless steel 3D letters which I use on many of my entry statement designs can be made to any size. They can be fixed discreetly to sculptures and signage.
The letters are handmade by Artforms WA from 3mm 316 mirror finish stainless steel to the front and 5mm 304 backs and sides. They are fully welded and finished to be durable in the Australian environment.