Richard Eggleston
Richard Eggleston's artistic journey began on his Darling Downs family farm where he indulged his passion for wood carving whenever time permitted. After retiring to the Sunshine Coast in 2000, he joined a woodworkers group in Cooroy, where he carved an impressive front door for a friend's new home. However, it was the discovery of an anvil and an old farm welder that inspired Richard to explore a new medium - stainless steel. Several of his stainless steel sculptures have been showcased at Sculpture on the Edge, and two of them now adorn the gardens of Spicers Tamarind Retreat.
Richard's artistic pursuits continued with a two-year ceramics course at TAFE in Cooroy, where he honed his skills in sculpting. He also completed a bronzing course at the USQ Summer School in Toowoomba and received a commission to create a life-size bronze howling dingo for the Jondaryan Woolshed.
His artistic endeavours also include a stainless steel sculpture of the late Stan Kuhl, commissioned by the Friends of the Peacehaven Botanic Park at Highfields. Richard based the sculpture on a well-known photo of Stan leaning on a farm gate during his dairy farming days.
Willie Wagtails
Richard Eggleston's admiration for the Willie Wagtails led him to create a sculpture of these brave and cheeky birds. Although they are not as big as the sculpture portrays, their fearless defence of their territory against Wedge-tailed eagles makes them appear larger than life. On moonlit nights, they sing their call "sweet pretty creature" through the night, and they don't seem to know when to go to bed. The sculpture is crafted from recycled stainless steel and painted onto a timber branch.
Recycled painted stainless steel and timber branch
$1000.00
The Pink Cockatoo
The renaming of the Pink Cockatoo
The Pink Cockatoo, has had a few names throughout history and has recently undergone changes in taxonomy. Initially referred to as Leadbeater's cockatoo by John Gould, the renowned Australian ornithologist, it was named after Benjamin Leadbeater, a London naturalist and taxidermist, upon its scientific classification in 1831 as Cacatua leadbeateri.
Sir Thomas Mitchell, the surveyor general of New South Wales from 1828 to 1855, held an admiration for this bird and referred to it as the red-top cockatoo. He was profoundly captivated by its beauty and eloquently described it as a species that brought vibrancy to the otherwise dull hues of the Australian forest. Mitchell's vivid portrayal led to the renaming of the now officially endangered Pink Cockatoo to Major Mitchell's cockatoo in 1977.
The evolution of bird naming reflects a growing understanding that taxonomy should be culturally and socially inclusive. Common names bear the weight of historical context and societal power structures. The practice of naming places and their fauna after colonial conquerors is considered a clear manifestation of dominance and ownership. As a result, there's a movement within the scientific community to adopt more culturally sensitive and inclusive terms for species, aiming to rectify historical imbalances and promote respect for diverse cultural perspectives.
This beautiful bird’s former name represented colonial dominance – and told us nothing about the species. As of now, the reversion to the name "Pink Cockatoo" is pending finalisation, awaiting inclusion in BirdLife Australia's forthcoming Working List of Australian Birds.
Recycled painted stainless steel
$1,400.00
The Eagles
Crafted from stainless steel offcuts sourced from an engineering works, The Eagles exhibit a unique colouration achieved through steel heating.
The wedge-tailed eagle, Australia's largest bird of prey boasting a wingspan of up to 2.8 meters, ranks among the world's largest eagles. These majestic creatures can be found across Australia and into New Guinea. Known for their territorial nature, they have been reported to attack hang gliders and destroy drones in defense of their territory.
$1,200 for both eagles or $700 each
The Red Kangaroo
Made from rusted steel with some small pieces of stainless steel.
$900