The Alice Springs Genestreaming Sculpture is a unique virtual reality experience and a public artwork that is informed and created with local cultural and ecological inputs.
It features the artwork of Aboriginal artists of the region on the outside of the sculpture and field naturalist art focusing on local ecosystems, endangered species and their deep time-shared ancestry on the inside of the sculpture. It aims to bring culture and science together through art to promote conservation awareness and was developed in consultation with local people who are involved in conservation efforts.
To experience the sculpture, go to the Visitors Information Centre in the Todd Mall with an internet enabled device, stand outside and scan the QR code to access the sculpture. Once you have located the sculpture, have a seat, enjoy a coffee, while admiring all of the finely detailed elements that make up the sculpture. For films, artwork details and science related to the sculpture go to: www.sciart.com.au/2023-alice-springs-genestreams-sculpture-ar/
About the Artists
Contributing local artists: Rosemary Pitjara, Cheryl Oliver, June Smith, Margaret Bloomfield, Delvine Pitjara Petyarre, Cecily Daniels, Eric Braedon Mbitjana, Esther Bruno Nangala, Gladys Daniels, Sabrina Spencer, Marie Ryder, Dora Mbitjana Awelye, Everlyn Young, June Bird Ngale, and Patsy Ross.
Mali Moir began her career as botanical artist in 1993 at the National Herbarium of Victoria. Combining botanical and horticultural knowledge with artistic skills Mali has contributed pen and ink drawings for Flora of Victoria, Flora of Australia, Mulleria and other scientific publications. By working closely with botanists, Mali has gained an understanding of the importance of scientific accuracy, the fundamentals of precise measurement and thorough depiction of detail.
Ben Beeton’s process of creating art is a learning experience and he has an active interest in scientific model making. His art drops a thread through aspects of the ecology, geology and deep time history of natural systems. He is a co-founder of the Genestreams Sculptures initiative, a website which along with showcasing his art allows access to the shared knowledge that has inspired his art. The public art project unites conservation initiatives with science and seeks to present both indigenous and non-indigenous artists work from communities.
This is an Activate Alice project.