KEW sculpture artist Mick Martin was awarded first place and $2000 in the People’s Choice Award at the 2016 Sculpture in the Gaol.
Mick’s sculpture ‘Wedge-Tailed Eagle’ was made from recycled tools and machinery.
The sculpture featured in the 27-day exhibit at the historical surrounds of Trial Bay Gaol, South West Rocks.
“It’s wonderful,” said Mick’s wife Cheryl Martin.
“We love going there for the venue.”
By trade Mick is a tool maker and around four or five years ago he started to get creative with old tools.
Soon, as his wife Cheryl said, “it became a love for Mick”.
“He’s always had a love for timber and metal – they are materials he’s always worked with,” Cheryl said.
“Now he likes to go out west to scavenge for old pieces of machinery and tools.”
Showing his fondness for flora and fauna, Mick has created an abundances of other animals in his work, including crabs, birds and fish.
The colours of his work remain dark, with a rustic appearance, that fit well back in nature.
“We have them all over our property,” added Cheryl.
Mick’s work also features around the Hastings, including a sculpture called 'Fish n' Ships' which now overlooks the Hastings River foreshore in Port Macquarie.
The sculpture was purchased by Port Macquarie-Hastings Council after the AquaSculpture outdoor exhibition in 2011.
Mick has also been commissioned by Forestry Corporation Wauchope to create a sculpture to commemorate 100 years of forestry in NSW.
See more of Mick’s work here: http://www.bushwoodfurniture.com.au/
Laura Polson
Journalist with the Manning River Times.
Journalist with the Manning River Times.
