'Old Yella' finds a new home

Kaddie Pass

Mr Jamieson with his work Can you see? Photo: Kimberly Douglas

1 December 2006: Take a stroll though the campus and you'll notice a new wooden sculpture near building seven - you might be surprised to learn it's actually been on the University grounds for more than 300 years.

Fashioned from the trunk of an old yellow box tree that was blown down in the storm that ripped through the campus last December, the five metre sculpture is by local artist, Paul Jamieson.

Senior gardener, Richard Carne organised a crane and a crew of workers to set the sculpture in place. He said the tree was over 300 years old so it was good to see it being recycled in a way that can be appreciated by everyone.

Called Can you see? the title is a play on the University's name and is 'vaguely symbolic' of the eye of the world, according to Mr Jamieson .

He said that while the sculpture was open to interpretation the semi-sphere at the top of the sculpture could be seen as "a divided world that is being bridged by institutions such as UC, which is international and multicultural".

University art curator, Johanna Owens, described the sculpture as abstract and a "visually strong piece".

The artist used a chainsaw to make the design and give it texture, while keeping the rawness of the material present.

Mrs Owens said it was a win-win situation for everyone.

"It is nice to be feeding the material back into campus and this project also gives a talented local artist a break," she said.

View photos of the sculpture being lowered into position by crane

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