WEIGHING in at 1.8 tonnes, you could say it’s a heavy metal tribute to country music.
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You might be waiting a while before the likes of Metallica are lighting up the stage at TRECC, but next time you’re in Bicentennial Park, you’ll get a look at the region’s latest homage to Tamworth’s musical heritage.
Peter Hooper is the man behind the 6.3 metre-tall Picasso Guitar sculpture recently installed in the Kable Ave park and he even thought it was a tall order.
I thought ‘you’re dreaming’, that’ll never happen, it’ll cost too much.
- Artist Peter Hooper
“I put in a number of proposals and the committee selected the guitar,” he told The Leader.
“At that stage, I thought ‘you’re dreaming’, that’ll never happen, it’ll cost too much.”
But the design – which was brought to life by Gary Gracie and B&G Fabrications – is here to stay.
Mr Hooper knows there will be some naysayers along the way.
“It’s a public artwork, so some will hate it, some will like it and many will be indifferent about it,” Mr Hooper said. “It’s nice that it evokes a response one way or another.”
Mr Hooper is keen to hear Troy Cassar-Daley’s thoughts, who will unveil the sculpture.
“He’s an avid collector of guitars, so it will be interesting to hear what he has to say,” he said.
Jacob McArthur
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
