Creative LAKE Foreshore Outdoor Art Exhibition

Lake Macquarie brushes up on its art scene with the launch of Creative LAKE foreshore outdoor art exhibition

Lake Macquarie residents and visitors can now enjoy a new addition to the region's burgeoning arts scene, Creative LAKE, an eagerly anticipated public art and sculpture trail along the beautiful foreshore of Lake Macquarie.

Set to launch on June 22 in conjunction with the second annual Float Your Boat night parade, Creative LAKE comprises seven unique artworks including a bronze sky pig, a young monk, a dingy, a granite hibiscus and several graffiti murals. Each of the artworks will be located in popular locations along the Warners Bay, Eleebana, Toronto and Belmont foreshores.

Brought to life by Lake Macquarie City Council and the Commonwealth-funded Tourism Demand Driver Infrastructure program, the Creative LAKE trail will enhance Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery's existing Sculpture Park and boost the number of highly visible outdoor elements to attract, and entertain, visitors to the lake.

Each featured sculpture is the work of established contemporary artists both from Australia and overseas and was chosen to entice visitors to enjoy a fresh perspective on the lake, whether exploring by bike, car, boat or on foot.

Featured artists include Guan Wei, Guy Maestri, Alex Seton, Naidee Changmoh and Antone Bruinsma.

Guan Wei has earned an international reputation for large installations and painting triptych combining imagery from mythology, fantasy, history and the present, drawing upon his experiences of both Chinese and Australian cultures and sharing stories of loss, migration, identity and place.

Sydney-based artist Alex Seton is renowned for applying his carving expertise to unexpected forms. His bronze for Creative LAKE is a deflated rubber lifeboat pool toy, representing both a toy for our privileged society and a means of transport for desperate asylum seekers – contrasting our different experiences of the same thing.

Thai ceramic artist Naidee Changmoh is recognised for his cartoon-like monk sculptures which represent positivity, peace and simplicity. His piece The Ascetic stems from memories of watching Japanese cartoons as a child.

Beach Blossom, inspired by the native hibiscus, was created by NSW sculptural artist Antone Bruinsma. A celebration of nature and community, each petal contributes to the beauty of the whole, whilst also respecting individuality.

Guy Maestri is an Archibald Prize winning contemporary Australian artist who has exhibited internationally. His bronze sculpture Darwin questions our historic penchant for immortalising the past in sculpture.

On a more playful note, two 3D floor murals have been commissioned for the foreshores of Belmont and Toronto by a team of artists led by Scott Jansen, who will create a series of fun and immersive 3D images and optical illusion sin the classic trompe-l'oeil style – ideal for the requisite social media selfie.

"The Creative LAKE exhibition will help visitors discover public art in surprising places, from sculptures to 3D murals to virtual reality," said Jacqui Hemsley. 'Each artwork is unique, and we're setting the standard for the future of creative experiences and public urban art projects in the Lake Macquarie region."

For both locals and tourists, Creative LAKE isn't the only new cultural tourism offering in the Lake Macquarie region.

The Lake Macquarie Tourism Cultural Trails are four new trails bringing together the best of the region's arts, heritage, cultural and indigenous attractions, ranging from historic sites to street art. Information on the trails will be available via free booklets and a dedicated website.

Virtual Awabakal is an exciting new virtual reality experience sharing three unique and fascinating stories from the region's indigenous Awabakal people, which has been created by immersive cultural heritage artists Brett Leavy in consultation with the community.

Visitors can access the VR experiences via their mobile or tablet, at the City Art Gallery or using a headset at various locations around the city to journey 250 years back in time to when the Awabakal people were the only inhabitants of the region.

Other ways to experience Lake Macquarie's most historic significant sites include via a series of interpretive panels bringing the past to life at locations including Toronto, Redhead Beach, Swansea Heads and Catherine Hill Bay.

To plan your winter adventure or discover more of what Lake Macquarie has to offer, please visit: http://www.visitlakemac.com.au