MILLICENT resident Anthony “Ant” Martin is continuing to carve a reputation as a prominent wood sculptor following the unveiling of another project in the Blue Lake city.
Hidden from view in a makeshift tarpaulin structure, the “Collingwood logo” tree stump sculpture is now standing proudly along North Terrace.
While it was an icy cold morning for the long awaited unveiling recently, the community has reacted warmly to the privately commissioned artwork.
But arguably this view could be dependent on what team you follow in the AFL.
Self-confessed Collingwood Football Club fanatic Wayne Walsh said he was thrilled with the sculpture that now sits in his front yard.
Explaining he had a couple of massive gum trees cut down at the front of his home, he said he thought it was a great opportunity to turn the stumps into pieces of art.
“I went down to Ant’s studio to have a look and I thought ‘I would not mind getting that done’,” Mr Walsh said.
Revealing he had not decided what the second sculpture would be, he explained the Collingwood Football Club logo was clearly his first choice given his passion for the club.
Speaking to Mr Martin and his partner Hatty during the unveiling, the couple said they were pleased with the result given there were a number of challenges along the way.
A former truck driver, Mr Martin turned to sculpting wood after his foot was crushed under a 20-tonne ramp at the Port of Portland.
After the accident, a wood artist crossed Mr Martin’s path and inspired him to try his hand at sculpting after deeming lathe work “boring”.
His story is inspirational given he had never sculpted wood or tried his hand any type of artwork.
Mr Martin has now clocked up 700 art pieces, including 25 big tree stump sculptures.
This Collingwood piece is the second “back to back” project in Mount Gambier following the completion of a koala in a backyard in Crouch Street.
Mr Martin is also well-known for his lizard wood sculpture at The Rail in the heart of Mount Gambier.
An Adelaide-based council has now commissioned him to create a similar but bigger lizard, which will weigh a staggering five tonnes.
While his injured foot throws up some challenges for the talented artist, it certainly does not hamper Mr Martin’s enthusiasm for wood sculpting.
“We are really happy with the result. We had to colour the Collingwood emblem – we do not usually colour sculptures, so it has taken us a bit longer,” said Mr Martin, adding the project took six weeks.
He said the cold weather had thrown up his hurdles in terms of painting.
Speaking to The Border Watch during the unveiling, Hatty said Ant’s heel was squashed in the accident and he continued to suffer enduring pain.
“While he is carving, it helps him to forget – however he is exhausted at the end of the day,” Hatty said.
“But when the next morning rolls around he says ‘let’s go’ and off we go to our next project.”
With his reputation soaring across the country, Mr Martin now has three art pieces within seven kilometres of Adelaide’s central business district.
“It is great public art is taking off, we need something in the world to create vibrancy and dialogue – not every person likes every piece of art.”
The couple run a gallery in Millicent, which is popular with tourists and other visitors.
