In order to avoid being at home, after Elder's appointment we took a tram to Docklands and wandered around. It's a brisk day for it but we had fun at the Docklands park (the one on Harbour Esplanade with the trees on top of the grassy knoll and the wind spinny thing).
In all, I'm pretty impressed with the public art and green spaces in this city. It leads me to ask this question of the DT: what is your favourite piece of public art in Melbourne?
As far as classics go, Deborah Halpern's The Angel, my profile pic. I'm also fond of all the Mirka Mora stuff around town but I'm biased because I knew her a little.
I love billy connelly's reaction to the angel. He made a point of visiting it every time he was in Melbourne. "I have no idea what the fuck this thing is. It's brilliant!"
As soon as I posed the question I thought of you actually 😆 I'm glad we have a bit of Mirka's stuff around, her work was so iconic and her painted W class tram (remember those?) was one of my favourites.
Miniest saw a W class tram doing the city circle route today and asked, "What the hell is that thing‽" I was a little shocked tbh; I love them the same way I love old trains, ships and firetrucks.
Without a doubt, this piece at the end of Drewery Ln. Definitely check it out some time after the sun sets (though I think the lights switch off a 10 or 11).
I think my parents used to call it Kennet's Erection.
Edit: Just had a fun memory of being at a party at an apartment that overlooked this and the red poles as well and one (high as a kite) girl was telling another (even higher) girl about how the red poles were intercepting sound waves and protecting our brains.
Controversial and iconic. I've only ever seen them from passing trains during the day but at night it's a much more atmospheric piece. There must be something about the engineering and design of it I don't understand, because I vaguely worry it'll fall one day.
In Melbourne: The Cow in the tree in Docklands always brightened my day. I don't know that it's high art exactly, but it brings joy and that's more than good enough for me.
Hey I love that triangle thing! I like how the base doesn't stand out so at first glance it looks like some weirdly hovering portal. The cow is pretty funny, I too like art that makes me smile.