GLENWOOD is fast becoming Durban's art precinct with artistic expressions filling the neighbourhood. Soon residents will have another huge public art sculpture on their doorstep.
A collective of Durban creatives is putting a whole new spin on ‘the eagle has landed.’ The Bulwer Park Community Public Sculpture Project is building a large sculpture for Glenwood's Bulwer Park.
The massive sculpture is a Vulturine Fish Eagle, aka Palm Nut Vulture, with wings spread soaring over seven meters high among the tree tops in the park. The sculpture project celebrates partnerships that provide artistically credible, interesting and informative public art.
A primary partner is Oricol Environmental Services, a Durban based company, which was awarded a contract by the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) which provided the very unique materials for the Eagle. Oricol was awrded the contract based on its ability to meet the contract specifications and offer safe destruction of non-compliant goods through environmentally friendly waste management methods ensuring maximum recycling and diversion from landfill of the products.
“It is important to ensure the non-compliant goods were properly and safely destructed so that they could never re-enter the market,” said Bren Brophy, project director of the Community Murals Project Trust, “These goods are consumer items aka ‘stuff’ that venture into the South African market as blatantly defective and undesirable for responsible consumers. Everything from electric plugs that don’t plug, to water safety vests that don’t float. A bunch of talented Durban artists have gobbled up this unique opportunity to re-purpose these objects to make beautiful and meaningful art,” Brophy explained.
Recycling and upcycling is a sustainable alternative to traditional sculpture materials. Leading the charge towards making art from the by-products of discarded consumer avarice is Umcebo Design. Robin Opperman and Ujala Sewpersad and a group of local crafters working from their studio across the road from Bulwer Park, construct the eagle sculpture daily.
Working with sculptor George Halloway ,the eagle will be constructed of a galvanised steel round bar and the ‘non-compliant goods’ , many of which are hair-cutting device components and cords, which have been withdrawn from the market.
Grade five learners from local primary schools are invited to get involved with the project by naming the eagle as part of an educational programme that will stimulate dialogue and debate surrounding often illegally imported contraband consumer goods, recycling and the preservation of indigenous wildlife and environmental heritage. The children’s drawings of the eagle will be exhibited at the KZNSA Gallery when the sculpted is completed.
Community members and educators can like the Bulwer Park Community Public Sculpture for more updates and information for schools to get involved.
