ART WORK IN THE PARKLANDS

Dear Friends

This is an important request to you all to take the time to think about and take action over the placement of a piece of “Art” in the newly created parkland adjacent to St. Mary’s Church Kangaroo Point.

The Kangaroo Point hilltop has always been a place of education with the Kangaroo Point State Primary School occupying this site for decades. It was followed by the Kangaroo Point TAFE. Most people would agree that these buildings served the public but were amongst the most unattractive buildings in the city.

I personally congratulate the Premier for her decision to proclaim the TAFE site as a People’s Parkland. This was a courageous and difficult political decision as this block of land was highly sought after by a stream of developers wishing to build accommodation apartments on that site. Whilst there have been some aspects of the development of the Parkland with which St. Mary’s church could take umbrage, we recognise the argument that the State finances and budget are in such restrained times, that concessions must be made.

St. Mary’s has long espoused the heritage encompassed by the church, rectory and hall. St. Mary’s church, built in 1873 is one of the treasures of this state. St. Mary’s is also the Naval Chapel of Queensland. It is the site of the first ship to shore radio transmission from the HMAS Gayundah in 1903 to a receiver located on what is now St. Mary’s front lawn. It is the site of the first Scout troop in Brisbane and the church contains the oldest pipe organ in Queensland. The church was built of Brisbane tuff by local builder Alfred Grant to the designs of architect Richard Suter. This heritage listed site was one of the original navigational points for the planning of Brisbane City. Whilst it has been virtually unknown to many in the past fifty years, this church is one of Brisbane’s icons.

Government has often recognised that priceless heritage, and assisted with welcome and appreciated funding, most recently to support an update of the conservation management plan for the site and buildings.

It is unfortunate that some proposed “artwork” in the park seems at conflict with the values inherent in appreciation of historic and cultural heritage.

The park development budget was set, and rightfully constrained to an approved firure. Consequent limitations resulted in removal and non replacement of the “TAFE” fire-fighting water supply mains, which were the main available water supply for fire-fighting at St Mary’s church. This was on a grace and favour basis, and very assuring should a fire disaster have ever eventuated.

There is now no water supply of major capacity to the new Parkland. Plants and grass will be watered by delivered water truck supplies, and firefighting at the church retrogrades to the inadequate arrangements of yesteryear.

Yet – the budget for this new iconic parkland allows for the erection of a huge “work of art” which the people of Brisbane are being invited to vote to choose by Arts Queensland. The selection is between a tall “needle” structure (named ‘Crescendo’) at the centre of the amphitheatre area remote from the church end of the site, or for a massive plate metal kangaroo “sculpture”, (origami style) at the church end of the site . Whilst I do not know the exact cost, it is said to be to the value of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Voting is available on-line, and complex, but apart from a small article in the sole Brisbane daily newspaper December 19th issue page 26, seems to have had little publicity. Voting closes on 11 January 2010, before the public awareness of the park rises from opening day on 24 January 2010.

As one who has a reasonable appreciation of popularist art as well as the mood of the community at large, I would have thought that prioritising to build a large, metal “art” kangaroo is out of touch, out of taste and an insulting waste of tax payers money when other basic elements such as a water supply has been foregone. This is something that leaves me puzzled, perplexed and unimpressed. If this proposed ‘sculpture’ is the one selected by the public and is located as planned adjacent to the historic St. Mary’s, I believe a form of public desecration would be perpetrated upon what could and should be one of the loveliest places in Brisbane.

It is understood neither of the proposed sculptures has been commissioned, but were the “kangaroo” proposal to eventuate by public selection, may I suggest that the work be placed in a spot at the bottom of the cliffs where other misguided pieces of “art” are located, not where every photograph, tourist visit, and promotion will be overshadowed by it, and the tranquillity and dignity of the park immeasurably degraded..

In 1988 we waved to Matilda at the famous Commonwealth Games, and were proud of the children pouring from her pouch. Australians love their national animals and icons. But there is a time and a place. This is not the time and this is not the place for this “edifice”.

Friends, I am asking you to vote, write, ring and annoy elected representatives into making an appropriate decision and keep the metal roo away from a publicly inappropriate prominence and as far away from St. Mary’s church as possible.

You can do this by going to the web site and follow the prompts. If I can do it, you can.www.artpoll.com.au

Please forward this appeal to your family and friends. Please take an interest in this piece of history for Brisbane.

Thank you for reading this letter and acting to follow up on it. Voting closes January 11.

We invite you to join us on January 24 for an Open Day of Arts, Music, Food, Children and Family entertainment, stalls and an opportunity to inspect historic St. Mary’s and see what the church community is about as we seek to share this treasure with the people of Brisbane and the World – without a massive metal kangaroo just over the fence.

Stephen Redhead
Rector of St. Mary’s.