Abstract Art Today

New public art revealed

A crowd gathered outside Thomas Jewellers to be the first to see Ballan artist Velislav Georgiev’s abstract sculpture Chance Encounter.

The commissioned public art, at the south-east corner of the Liebig and Lava streets intersection, was made using Port Fairy bluestone and stainless steel, with 23-carat gold highlights.

Students and teachers from Allansford, Merrivale and St John’s Dennington primary schools attended the unveiling, having contributed more than 60 small artworks for temporary display around the sculpture.

Bulgarian-born Georgiev admitted street art was not for everyone, but said many people would view the sculpture in their own way.

“Some people might like it, some might not,” he said.

“That’s the whole nature of abstract art. One day you’ll see it and it will speak to you and it will start to look like something.

“A lot of people say to me public art is a waste of money that should be used for roads and footpaths.

“What we put here will be here in 200 years, but a footpath will be lucky to last seven years.

“The whole point is to make people think about different things.”

Warrnambool Art Gallery director John Cunningham said the piece could be interpreted as two friends greeting each other in the street.

Or it could be seen as a frame of its surroundings’ beauty.

“This artwork says something today about what Warrnambool is or could be,” Mr Cunningham said.

“In 100 years’ time we’ll all be gone but it will be a testament to what we were, what we did, our hopes and our dreams.

“We need great public art to be like ourselves: different, distinctive, displaying a range of moods from subdued to very loud.

“Great urban spaces require open minds to design and look after them, to allow culture to flourish and to support creativity and fun.”

Art advisory committee chairwoman Glenys Phillpot said Chance Encounter was the second piece of public art commissioned by the Warrnambool City Council, with an annual allocation of $20,000.

She said people were increasingly positive about the council’s first commissioned work, Three Pillars of Instant Gratification, at the the corner of Liebig and Koroit streets last year.

Abstract Art : Today's Featured Abstract Artist: Debra Corbett

Massachusetts abstract artist Debra Corbett 's favorite shape to paint on is the square, and I agree with her that this shape is a natural container for non-representational painting. Debra says her art is a cross between sculpture and paint because the texture of the surface is critical.  In addition to acrylic paint, she uses glazes, powdered pigment, collage, plaster, handmade papers and graphite to create her surfaces.

Massachusetts abstract artist Debra Corbett 's favorite shape to paint on is the square, and I agree with her that this shape is a natural container for non-representational painting. Debra says her art is a cross between sculpture and paint because the texture of the surface is critical.  In addition to acrylic paint, she uses glazes, powdered pigment, collage, plaster, handmade papers and graphite to create her surfaces.

Art today, from abstract expressionism to superrealism

Abstract art today: doodles, dollars and death

Theories of art today

Graphic communications today

Art and its significance, an anthology of aesthetic theory