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When I decided to make something of what I was doing with the various rusty, or metal anyway, bits and pieces of ‘stuff’ I picked up as I was going for walks, I had no thought of it being anything much at all.

The image above is a small section of what is now the “Redbanks RUST & FOUND Art Installation”, which is what those random bits and pieces, displayed on the front fence have become.

What began as some beer bottle caps and some wheel hubs/covers, has become bigger and better as the months go on, having now been going for around a year now.

It began on the front gate, and a small section of the front fence, but now takes in all of the front fence, which is over 75 metres!

There are over 700 individual pieces of Rusty and/or Found objects, some small, some, as can be seen in the image, much larger than those beer bottle caps. Signs, wire, and a variety of preloved items fallen from trucks, utes, and who knows where else …

All found, examined, thought about, and put on display, showing the variety of ways metal is used in our society, whether alone, or combined with a variety of other man-made substances. Rubber, plastic, and who knows what else.

That sign for instance, surely it once did an excellent job at keeping the traffic under control, when the workers were working, so why was it seemingly dumped off to the side of the road, where it was soon covered in dust and dirt from the passing traffic, only to eventually be found by me, and brought to my home, to finally be useful again, in a quite different way.

No longer a sign to direct traffic, but now an item in this Art Installation, to direct thoughts and ideas, then becoming something quite different to what had first been thought it may ever be.

I’m directing the thoughts traffic, helping others to think about these things too, as happening when I hosted an Ekphrastic Creative Writing event, where attendees viewed the Art Installation, then we all retired to a a place nearby (In country terms), the Mallala Cafe, just 6 or so kilometres to the north, where some fine coffee and food was consumed, and fine words written.

These words once submitted will be considered for inclusion in chap book, which will then be made available to those submitting their words, and also for purchase by others.

I intend writing a book about this project too, considering the range of thoughts and ideas that lead to this project almost taking over my life, in a good way, and also giving people the chance to have their words published.

There’s history, social sciences, actual science too, and environmental issues considerd, as well as my own thoughts concerned with the curating procews, one quite new to me. I’m a writer and poet, not an Art Installation Curator. But no, I am infact one of those – untutored, but learning by doing it, and doing it quite well, I feel, as others too feel.

And it all started bt picking up bits and pieces when walking our dog Lenny! From such an ordinary thing, something much more interesting has come into being!

The image below shows a small part of our fence. A solid iron gate, with wire and bard wire, with star droppers, with that ever increasing number of items on display. I have a small cadre of folk who have been inspired, or at least are interested, in this project and have donated items they too have found, whether when out walking, or ‘found’ in their front or backyards, as some of the items on display also been found, then put on display.

Our property was once part of a farm, and I suspect some of the various bits and pieces I’ve found around our place likely were once attached to farming equipment, whether horse-powered or pulled by a truck. Nails, random bits of wire, nuts and bolts, and so many other things, some I have know idea the use for, other bits more recognisable.

I’m having so much fun with this project, and I suspect others involved are enjoying it too! And the fact of its importance been recognised by the Adelaide Plains Mayor was a boost to my thoughts about it how relevant this Art Installation is to current days, in looking bavk at former times.

The Mayor actually opened the Redbanks RUST & FOUND Art Installation back in May last year, when he spoke entertainingly about rabbits, and donated a lovely rusty old rabbit trap which is now on display as part of the Art Installation!

Fun times, with family, friends, and important people. I love it!