Fairhaven artist Sue Corbet will display bronze works created in one of the birthplaces of modern sculpture in this year’s Surf Coast Art Trail.
The 70-year-old sculptor has travelled to Italy every year since 2004, when she began sculpting “properly”.
“Beauty inspires me, human beings inspire me,” she said.
“Italy inspires me too with its wonderful art and history.”
The desire to learn Italian also motivated Sue to spend at least a few months every year in Florence.
While there she found a ‘family-run’ art foundry to work on her own, while getting physical help for the heavy parts, mould-making and fusing bronze.
“I am surrounded by art of all genres and artists of many nationalities,” she said.
Sue said making sculptures is a long and complicated process.
It involves sketches, taking photos for the pose and making a bozzetto (small model in wax or clay).
Sue makes a number of wax, clay and silicon moulds before finally filling a “negative” brick-like mould with molten bronze.
“Once the bronze has cooled the case is broken open to reveal the model,” she said.
“Many hours are required to ‘chase’ (clean up) the bronze, weld parts together, to bring it to a high polish before patination – the adding of colour – and then waxing to preserve this patination.”
“I just love the whole process.”
Sue’s showpiece sculptures, “After the Swim”, will be on display on the trail.
“The inspiration for these sculptures came from a familiar scene of young children, both on the beach and by our pond after their swim, snuggled under their beach towels to keep warm,” she said.
The Surf Coast Art Trail takes place 13 and 14 August, with 41 venues sprinkled across the hinterland and coastal towns of the Surf Coast Shire.
The coast’s rich and diverse talent will be on display, promoters said, with jewellery, ceramics, paintings, sculptures, printmaking, illustrations, graphic designs and animation.
Some artworks will be on sale and trail maps are available at www.surfcoast.vic.gov.au
