Famous sculpture for Fish Creek
TWO sculptures that graced the Yarra River during the 2006 Commonwealth Games will be transformed into a sculpture to be erected at the entrance to Fish Creek.
Local artist Andrew McPherson and metalworker Ray Jones are now working together to create a fish wind vane from the two fish, to be placed at the Meeniyan entrance to the town.
The two fish are the Blue Tang, which represented Montserrat, and the French Angelfish, which represented St Kitts and Nevis at the games.
Fantastic fish: Andrew McPherson and Ray Jones are bringing two famous fish from the 2000 Commonwealth Games back to life as one giant sculpture for Fish Creek.
Mr McPherson said the two fish were able to be put together to create one 3D sculpture.
“The fish were originally commissioned as temporary public art installations and were not designed to withstand prolonged exposure to the external environment,” he said.
“We have had various attempts at putting them up separately in the past which failed because they were so poorly made, so I came up with the idea to put the two together.”
Mr Jones is completing the metalwork and Mr McPherson is the artist in charge of design.
“The shire actually gave money to the Fish Creek Development Group six years ago to refurbish them, but most of it was used in the failed attempts to erect them,” Mr McPherson said.
“There should be enough left over to complete the engineering work, which will hopefully begin soon.”
The pair of skilled workers has a vision of what they want to create with the fish, which includes completely abandoning the original designs.
“I think it will be quite an icon once it is up. We want to skin the whole thing in aluminium,” Mr McPherson said.
“I would like to do it with old road signs. I believe in reusing stuff and using road signs for something that will be on the side of the road appealed to me.
“If anyone has any sheet aluminium lying around we would be happy to use it!”
Mr McPherson said while they don’t know exactly what the fish will look like, they know what shape it will take.
“We are hoping to have it up by the end of the year,” he said.
Of course, the significance of another fish sculpture for Fish Creek has not been lost on the artist.
“It will do no harm to have another fish. It will become a recognisable symbol for the town with an iconic name,” he said.
Once the fish has been erected, Mr McPherson would like to see the sculpture linked by a pathway to the creek and in to the town.
“It would make a beautiful walk, so we are hoping the sculpture might be a starting point,” he said.
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