Get up close to the art as you explore Sculpture at Bathers when it returns to Fremantle’s Bathers Beach this month.
By Ara Jansen
There are many reasons why it’s fabulous living on the west coast.
One of them is a daily sunset over the ocean, another is being able to watch that sunset surrounded by sculptures and watching the light play on them.
Experience that across this month at Sculpture at Bathers at the Bathers Beach Art Precinct in Fremantle.
“Seeing the work is so special and particularly rewarding at sunset,” says Sandra Murray, S@B artistic director and lead curator, about one of her favourite parts of the event.
“People walking around the sculptures, getting up close or sitting on the grass with a picnic, it’s a perfect way to enjoy the work and the beautiful setting. It’s always such a friendly vibe here.”
This year marks the sixth instalment of the much-loved WA outdoor sculpture exhibition. Held roughly every three years, it started in 2013 as a grassroots event and Sandra says it has very much remained so.
The artists involved are of all ages and range from new and emerging through to established.
In an attempt to avoid the summer heat, this year’s S@B runs from April 4-21 and also shares its closing weekend with the always colourful 2025 Fremantle International Street Arts Festival.
This exhibition spreads across three spaces – Bathers Beach/Manjaree, inside the WA Shipwrecks Museum and a satellite exhibition at Old Customs House.
The work inside the museum comprises smaller and more delicate pieces like ceramics and those that won’t tolerate the outdoors. All work is for sale.
“There’s a wonderful sense of achievement once all the work is installed, we’ve had the opening and people are experiencing it. There’s also a genuine sense of satisfaction for the artists and the crew seeing everything in situ.”
The exhibition features a number of free public tours – artist-led tours, family friendly ones and artist talks, all of which are free. There are also paid twilight tours led by the artists.
More than 55 WA artists, from Perth and regional, have work on display and exhibitors include Tony Davis, Kevin Draper, Jill Paynter-O’Meehan, Adam Hisham Ismail, Yuko Takahashi and Eileen Cunningham to name a few.
This year, the exhibition pays tribute to founder and creative patron Tony Jones and features six pieces of his work. Known for his statue of Eliza in Crawley Bay and the bronze of C.Y. O’Connor on his horse in North Coogee, Tony was named a State Cultural Treasure late last year.
“Bathers Beach is such a picturesque location for this event, it’s family friendly and the scale of the outdoor space is intimate,” Sandra says.
Sandra also loves that such a variety of materials are used for the works, from recycled elements, to clay, plastic, granite, wool and aluminium. Some are delicate, some tactile, others robust and with kinetic elements which move in the wind.
“We assess the applications largely from submitted images and accompanying text, so when you get to see them in the flesh it’s impressive – the scale, the materials and the colour. There’s even a sculpture that will sit at the tideline and interact with the water.
“We’ll also have lights on the works each evening, so you’ll be able to see the pieces from a different perspective. That’s always very lively.”
For more information, bookings and tour tickets, visit www.sculptureatbathers.com.au
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