Superlative Art at St Mark's
Superlative Art at St Mark's
This sculpture is a magnificent gift to the College, thanks to the generosity of the late Bob and our beloved Betty Lewis. Betty unveiled the plaque on Sunday 28 February 2010 commemorating this important day in the history of St Mark's College, home to Betty for a significant part of her life. Betty was joined by members of her family, many of whom have travelled from interstate to be with St Mark's community on this special occasion.
Betty Lewis is very special to St Mark's. Betty lived at St Mark's for 37 years of her life. She played an active role in the life of the College in supporting her husband Bob Lewis as the Master (1957 - 1967) and has always retained the strongest of connections with the College. Betty is also the daughter of the first Master, Archie Grenfell Price (1925 - 1956), after which, of course, the Master's Lodge and the Dining Hall are named.
The artist extraordinaire, Silvio Apponyi and his wife Natalija were also present at the unveiling of the plaque commemorating the sculpture. Silvio is a well renowned sculptor, famous for his bronze, granite and marble sculptures of Australian fauna, both great and small - some of his work can be seen on Granite Island, Victor Harbour, Eden Hills - indeed, far too many places and works of art to list.
With this wonderful sculpture comes a story of its own. 
This sculpture is made out of white marble which has come from the Chillagoe Quarry, in Northern Queensland, West of Cairns. Nothing similar to this sculpture exists in South Australia. It stands at 3.2 metres tall and weighs 2.2 tonnes - quite an appropriate weight and size given the College context; some might say, in keeping with the gravitas of the College and its Collegians. Just as interesting is that the other half of this piece of marble has been sculpted into a tribute to the late zoologist Steve Irwin and his children Bindi & Robert, which was unveiled on the foreshore of Mooloolaba Beach, Queensland in early December 2009.
The beauty of sculpture as an art form, and indeed this superlative piece of abstract sculpture, is that it can be what it is you want it to be - it can provoke dialogue which may be admiring or even non-committal.
But with discussion comes ideas and an opening of minds - the very purpose of the College and of a university education.
The incorporation of art into any built environment is important as it lifts the spirit and humanises, what, without students I would say can be a soulless place. What Silvio has done is not only use his imagination and worked with a most unusual space, he has worked this sculpture to ensure that it relates to the environment here - it is an incredible abstract creation that has an amazing level of realism.
Some may think it is analogous to Australian fauna, reed like, growing, evolving, or a flame representing life, light and knowledge, inspiring learning and excellence. We are all encouraged to further use our imagination, for it can really be what we want it to be.
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