We went for a wander through the main town of Broken Hill today just to have a stickynose around. It is one of those typical old towns with hugely wide streets that wouldn’t be too hard to imagine lined with horses and carts, and with an old pub on nearly every corner I could just about see the streets thronged with thirsty miners.
Street sculpture, Broken Hill.
It is a place that loves its art too, there was a small art exhibition in the town hall we stopped in to see, and there are sculptures in the main street. Just out of town is ‘The Living Desert’, an outdoor sculpture exhibit that we are planning to see tomorrow.
The Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery is the oldest regional art gallery in NSW and was established in 1904. I’m not sure how many other galleries it has to compete with for that particular title though….
The eccentric artist Pro Hart was born here, and the Pro Hart gallery is still here.
You Aussies will remember Pro from those long ago Stainmaster carpet ads, “Ooooh Mr Hart! What a mess!”. Fortunately for the town hall cleaners, the art we saw in there today was of a much more traditional kind!
I love that bust and yes, I remember that ad. with great affection.
There were a few sculptures like it in the main street, they are like a double ended boat with different sculptures at each end. The ‘boats’ are so narrow that even the smallest of our family wouldn’t be able to take to the water in one. I loved this one the most as it was redgum with copper panels nailed all over it.
That carpet ad was a very funny one, wasn’t it. It is one of those things that has entered into our lingo too, “Oooh Mr Hart!”
lmao – yes! Another one is that ‘Not happy Jan!” commercial. I can’t for the life of me remember what it was /for/ but that line has become one of our family sayings.
You just made my day twice over, Metan! You used the word “stickynose” again, and posted another iconic Aussie advert! So happy!
I love your newspaper stories very much, but I also love your slice-of-life pieces. And I’m *really* enjoying these lovely glimpses into your vacation! It’s an all around win, Metan!
I’m glad you are enjoying them, doing blog posts gives me an excuse to take even more photos!
: )
Courtenay Bluebird just sent me here. I love art! Especially public art!
Welcome! It is nice to see public art, isn’t it, especially in unexpected places
Ahh, a lovely way to spend a Saturday, exploring Broken Hill. It’s on our to do list.
For a smallish place there are a lot of things to look at, especially if you love old buildings
Wow, that ad brings back memories… When I was living in Melbourne many moons ago I got to babysit for Mr. Hart… A bit of cash and a signed print for what was probably the easiest babysitting gig I ever had!
WOW! Now that is the kind of payment I would treasure forever! And a good story too
I wish I knew where the print has got to. I know it rescued from the clutches of the ex. Storage I hope…
You will wake up at 3am with an “aha!, I know where it is” now it’s on your mind