PROJECT INSIGHT: 2018 Palmer Sculpture – Waratah in progress

‘Where Have All The Flowers Gone’ – sculpture in progress

One of Australia’s most significant exhibitions of contemporary sculpture, the 2018 Palmer Sculpture Biennial exhibition will take place near the small township of Palmer, in the rain shadow of the Mount Lofty Ranges, about 70 km east of Adelaide, South Australia.

It will open for 4 weeks from March 17th to April 8th, and will be part of the Adelaide Fringe Festival, featuring works from international and national artists, including works by indigenous artists from the Peramangk community and Tiwi Islanders. It will also feature a photographic exhibition by Michael Kluvanek, one of South Australia’s leading photographers.

The piece I am creating for the exhibition this year is a 7ft metal and glass Waratah flower titled ‘Where Have All The Flowers Gone’. It is inspired by the cyclical anti-war song of the same name by Pete Seeger.

A significant Australian native flower, the piece is a double entendre that also relates to the concept of where has all the native vegetation gone? This is in response to the Palmer area, where the effects of native vegetation clearing in South Australia, to impose our European concept of farming, is clearly illustrated. It hasn’t and doesn’t work well.

When will they ever learn?

Read more about the Palmer Sculpture Biennial in my following blog post coming soon and sign up to the newsletter for more updates.

Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the flowers gone?
Girls have picked them every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the young girls gone?
Taken husbands every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
Where have all the young men gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the young men gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the young men gone?
Gone for soldiers every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Covered with flowers every one
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?

Songwriter: Pete Seeger