Sea scene should be kept with collection

Kallee Buchanan | 3rd August 2009

ARTIST Arthur “Nobby” Clarke's latest work is so lifelike, you could be forgiven for thinking the wooden reef is moving.

Representing the Great Barrier Reef, Mr Clarke has carved fish and corals he hopes will make it into his existing collection, kept by Bundaberg Regional Council and set for display at the Bargara service centre.

“I started carving these bits about 12 months ago, and I gathered all the odd bits of wood that I had out in the shed and did them up,” Mr Clarke said.

“Hopefully they will go to Bargara with the collection.”

Mr Clarke is passionate about his “love affair with wood” and also that his work should be available for viewing by the public.

“I'm donating to the people of Bundaberg, not the council or the arts centre,” Mr Clarke said.

“I'm not really interested in money, I just think it would be nice for Bundaberg - it will be a memory of me in years to come.”

Learning his craft while working as a tool maker, Mr Clarke said he felt at peace when he was carving.

“Very contented, it's very relaxing - I can't go a day without doing some form of carving,” he said.

Council community and arts spokeswoman Cr Judy Peters said she would be meeting with Mr Clarke to discuss his donation.

“Any donation like that would have to come through the collections committee, and then a recommendation is made to council,” she said.

“There's a specific committee that has council, representatives from the gallery, local artists and community people on it.”

But she said Mr Clarke formed a part of a vibrant artist community in the region.

“It's very good, people are very aware of the significance of Nobby's work, one that's been done by a recognised international artist - (his work) is incorporating the Great Barrier Reef, which of course is at our doorstep,” she said.

“At the same time it must have a place and a significance to be added to the collection.”