Junk Sculpture Festival

A trip to Chernobyl has given last year’s Junk Sculpture Festival winner inspiration for his latest creation.

By Tamara Howie

Mechanic and minister Patrick Bauer won the gong last year with a metal skeleton fixing its heart, and this year is working on a giant angel.

“I got inspired by a recent trip to Chernobyl,” he says.

“We went there because it’s a fascinating place.”

Bauer and his wife went to the site of the nuclear reactor meltdown in October and the ideas have been stewing for a few months.

“I woke up in the middle of the night at the end of March and woke my wife up and said ‘I know what I’m going to build this year’,” he says.

“It’s going to be a large terrifying angel. I’ve got it all figured out, hopefully I’ve got time to make it.”

His first entry two years ago earned him 3rd place, before taking out the title last year.

“This year the pressure if off so it's just having some fun,” he says.

Bauer began making metal sculp-tures in his workshop a few years ago, but the annual festival gives him the opportunity to really put his creativity to the test.

“I was bored in the shop one day about three or four years ago and saw a bunch of parts that looked like a spider, so I made a spider and then started making weird creatures,” he says.

“Then the Junk Festival came along and I thought it would be cool to display some stuff.

“Now a few of my mates who are mechanics throw things together – we never thought we had it in us, but now it’s an opportunity to bounce ideas off each other and make stuff.”

The festival is more than just showcasing mind-blowing sculptural skills from talented Katherine-folk, there’s a stellar line up of music, comedy, good food and junk fashion. 

Katherine Regional Arts is hosting workshops throughout May to help locals let their creative sides shine.

Sat 2 Jun | 5pm | Lindsay St Complex, Katherine | See the event listing