PRESENTATION - Jade Oakley x CR - Noosa Concept Final 24-4-25_Optimized · EXE25/0029

ARTWORK CONCEPT

When I make public artworks, I like them to be accessible—physically and conceptually. I want
people to touch them, sit on them, for children to climb on them. I want the forms to be open
and familiar, but also poetic—allowing room for interpretation and connection.

Crossing The Bar is inspired by a scene well known to Noosa locals: recreational fishing boats
navigating the Noosa River mouth and crossing the sand bar into the ocean. This passage is
both a rite of passage and a spectacle—a moment of tension, bravery, and often humour. It’s
a living symbol of Noosa’s laid-back grit, its coastal identity, and its deep relationship with the
sea.

This artwork pays tribute to that tradition and spirit. The sculptural boats are not literal
replicas, but poetic forms. They resemble boats, but also suggest shells, wave-worn boulders,
or the hydrodynamic shapes of fish. In this way, they hold space for viewers to bring their own
memories and interpretations. Some may see the coast; others may see journeys, risk, or play.
This gentle abstraction allows the artwork to speak to both locals and visitors—anchoring it in
Noosa’s culture, while remaining open and universal.

By inviting interaction—climbing, sitting, gathering—the work encourages social connection
and personal reflection. It is public art meant to be lived with, not just looked at.

In keeping with Noosa’s mission to be ‘Different by Nature’, Crossing The Bar:

•     Embodies difference through its original, site-specific design that avoids generic or
      decorative tropes
•     Reflects the values of the Biosphere, using sustainable materials and fabrication methods
      that consider environmental impact across the lifecycle of the work
•     Responds directly and respectfully to the natural and built environment, taking visual
      cues from the estuary and coastline
•     Demonstrates artistic excellence through craftsmanship, conceptual integrity, and
      meaningful engagement with place

Ultimately, art happens in the poetic space between recognition and imagination. Crossing             Scribby Gum . 2000 . ACT Law Court . Canberra
The Bar invites that exchange—between land and sea, past and present, object and observer.

Noosa Council CityDeal Public Art Initiative | April 2025                                                                        Jade Oakley x Creative Road   5