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Emus have gathered on Cottesloe Beach near the breakwater runway where you're invited to board the imagination express created by two University of Western Australia staff members for the Scultpure by the Sea exhibition.

The work of internationally acclaimed artists, Jon Tarry and Len Zuks, are among 60 sculptures from Australia and overseas, including 36 Western Australian artists selected for this year's beachside show.

As well as a string of awards and exhibitions, Mr Zuks, who works as a fitter in the UWA Facilities Management maintenance workshop, has created a number of fabricated steel sculptures for public art commissions including at Ascot Waters, Melville, Boddington and Karratha Airport.

Mr Zuks' work on show at Cottesloe Beach is a steel and rubber sculpture entitled ‘Antipodean Recruits' - a representation of five emus in close company.

He says although emus are usually found in rural Australia he hopes to introduce these iconic Australians to the beach.

Jon Tarry, a Lecturer in the UWA School of Architecture, Landscape and Visual Arts, has been exhibiting both locally and internationally for more than 25 years.

Mr Tarry, who traditionally works with aluminium, has designed a piece entitled ‘Runway Deep Six' which transforms the 80 metre long stone breakwater at Cottesloe into an international runway. A centre line runs the full length of the breakwater leading the eye to three distinct sculptures that plot and frame the aerial perspective.

Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe is one of the most popular annual art exhibitions in Australia. The fifth exhibition runs from 5 - 24 March 2009 and is expected to attract more than 100,000 visitors.

Media references

Len Zuks (+61 4) 27 866 835
Jon Tarry (School of Architecture, Landscapes and Visual Arts) (+61 8) 6488 3631 / (+61 4) 22 747 078
Sally Ann Jones (UWA Public Affairs) (+61 8) 6488 7975 / (+61 4) 20 790 098