Picture: THE SET UP NORWOOD
A TIMBER sculpture crafted by Millicent artists Ant and Hat Martin features in a redeveloped public playground in suburban Adelaide.
The local couple was commissioned by the Burnside City Council to transform a fallen branch into a supersize “lizard” for the first stage of the redevelopment of Constable Hyde Memorial Garden at Leabrook.
The four metre blue tongue lizard was sculpted from one section of a River Red Gum that was removed from Philip Avenue, Leabrook, after suffering extensive structural damage during a major storm in 2014.
When standing, it was one of the largest street trees in the City of Burnside.
The garden was recently opened by Burnside City Mayor Anne Monceaux.
It now features a new play space with fencing and a lawned area.
Local resident Alisha Roberts won a competition to name the lizard.
Alisha came up with Tili, as the scientific name of a lizard is Tiliqua.
Ms Martin was involved in all aspects of the unique sculpture.
“The only thing that I do not do is use the chainsaw,” she said.
“We are really happy with how it turned out.
“The Burnside City Council also commissioned us to do a redgum sculpture for its Kensington Gardens Reserve”.
The couple have a busy few months ahead as they work on a number of other commissions.
Their upcoming commissions are for a private housing estate at Murray Bridge, a sculpture trail on Kangaroo Island and a decorative dog for Edwardstown Primary School in suburban Adelaide.
