Walcha MPS gets creatures of the sea

28 November 2007

If you have visited Walcha’s new Multi Purpose Health Service (MPS) in the last two weeks you would not have missed its new centrepiece.

The foyer of Walcha MPS is the new home of a 2.3 metre high wooden statue named ‘Life of First Breath’, which is on permanent loan from the Sculpture by the Sea exhibition in Bondi.

The huge red cedar carving was gifted to the Walcha Council in 1999 and has only recently become part of the new multi purpose facility. 

An artist named Victor Nui who chose to use sea creatures to represent a new life and a new beginning sculptured the statue and had it exhibited in one of the world’s biggest outdoor art exhibitions at Bondi.

The sculpture features dolphins intertwined with a number of other sea creatures creating what Walcha Health Service Manager Kristine Smith said is a unique and uplifting feeling for the new MPS.

“This piece of art brightens up the MPS and gives everyone something interesting to look at, and the dolphins and sea creatures are a really fun things to have in the foyer,

“It is such a different looking piece of art, you just can’t miss it,” said Ms Smith

Ms Smith also acknowledged the link between the theme of the artwork and the introduction of the new MPS.

“The name of the artwork refers to something fresh and I guess that is the feeling for the new Walcha MPS.”

Walcha is no stranger to woodcarvings or publicly displayed artworks, as it has a number of wooden sculptures on display throughout the community.

The sculpture remains the property of the Walcha Community. Walcha Council supported the loan to the Walcha MPS for long-term public exhibition.

Contact: Nick Hansen

Phone: 49214918