Weathervanes sculpture

Public Art: Weathervanes sculpture

Sculptor: © Daniel Jenkins

Description: If you look up you high on four tram poles you will see a horse, fish, bird and pig weathervane blowing in the wind at the corner of Swanston and Burke Streets. The Weathervanes group are a series of 4 hand beaten and copper weathervanes featuring gold leaf detail. Jenkins, who is a jeweller and silversmith by trade, used a techiques called repousse ,  where the metal is beaten from the underside to achieve more shape and relief. He learned this technique while in Venice on a Palladio Foundation scholarship. Each animal represents a specific aspect of Melbourne: the horse, sport and culture; the fish rpresents the waterways: the bird symbolizes Melbourne's parks and gardens; and the pig? Well, the pig is suppose to represent the city's hope and future! OK, so the artist was having a little tongue-in-cheek "pigs can fly" moment!

Artist Statement: "We take our cities for granted with the daily pedestrian bustle it is always business as usual. It takes something very unusual to attract someone's eye. I want people to look up and smile."

Date Unveiled: March, 1993

Location: The weathervanes are spinning at the corner of Burke and Swanston streets, Melbourne, Australia.