NORTHERN SCULPTURE EXTRAVAGANZA SEES LAST CHOPPER FLIGHT OF SPEECHLESS BRONWYN BISHOP

One of the many eye catching  works of  art  in  the current  North Queensland  sculpture festival , which stretches  along  The  Strand , Townsville, is this mighty effort, Boat People , surrounded by shark fins,  made  by   Lance Seadon ,from bamboo, rope, wire, metal and  wood. The objects are made from a wide variety of  materials, are on display until August 9 and  includes spectacular   sandcastles  by  Peter Redmond, Jino Van  Bruinessen and Walter McDonald from  Texas.  

 

A swarm  of  giant , metal  praying mantises took over the  rails on a jetty ; imitation coral and sea  creatures made from  flotsam and  jetsam  wrapped  about  tree trunks added to  the impact of the  permanent  turtle information  post .

Chairs  were  arranged  in  a  large red  arch against  Magnetic Island  in  the  distance and  the caravans used by Grey Nomads were the subject of another  clever  display.

Shark  attacks very much  in the news  right  now,  many people  were snapped  posing  with  the  above  large metal whale shark. Over  the weekend  The  Strand  was  seething  with humanity, dogs,  bikes, automated  skate  boards , sky divers  landed on  the beach, the Red Baron thrilled  by flying  low  overhead  before touching down  with  a  splash .When  a helicopter made a low pass  it caused  a  young  boy who obviously watches  a  lot of  television to shout to  his  parents ,"Is  that  the politician ?!!!"A titter ran through the  crowd , an expression  not   much used  in  these politically  correct  times.