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Devonport's famous Vertex sculpture gets a 40-year spruce up
By Libby Bingham Updated February 3 2023 - 7:35pm, f
Renowned Australian sculptor and painter Ron Robertson-Swann has vivid memories of making Vertex at Finlayson Brothers' foundry on Devonport's wharf.
Paranaple Convention and Arts Centre director Geoff Dobson with "Vertex" soon to be removed for repainting. Picture Eve Woodhouse.
"Hell, it was cold working on it with them," he said.
That was 42 years ago, and Devonport's famous geometric welded steel sculpture is about to get a spruce up budgeted to cost between $10,000 and $15,000.
The Sydney artist is the former head of sculpture at the Australian National University and was commissioned in 1980 to create the public artwork for Devonport, that's overdue for new paintwork.
According to a revaluation of the Devonport City Council's significant public art collection, the sculpture's value appreciated from the $20,000 it cost to $180,000.
Between one and two tonnes, it has to get craned from Bluff Road for sandblasting and repainting before it's returned in about two months, looking new.
The sculpture was too big for the Rooke Street mall, where it was initially to go.
"There was nowhere to put it in the mall, and I was a little relieved to see it moved to a spot near the old gallery," Robertson-Swann said.
The sculpture sat near the Bass Strait Maritime Centre before it was moved again to Bluff Road.
Sculptor Ron Robertson-Swann with his work "Vertex" when it was located
near the Bass Strait Maritime Centre. Picture contributed.
Not only some Devonport residents failed to appreciate Robertson-Swann's abstract style at the time.
He was best known for his Vault sculpture, dubbed "Yellow Peril," made for the Melbourne City Council in 1978.
Similarly, Vertex was nicknamed "Red Peril."
Since then Vault became a Melbourne icon and one the best known public sculptures in Australia.
In Devonport the council was not the driver of the public art project led by Devonport Jaycees.
The Visual Arts Board, The Tasmanian Arts Advisory Board, and G.J. Coles Pty Ltd donated Vertex to the city.
Vertex sculpture gets a 40-year spruce up
"It was the Jaycees that commissioned it," Robertson-Swann confirmed.
"They were enormously pleasant and enthusiastic to me."
A national selection committee, including noted artists, chose the work for Devonport.
"What I like to do with commissions like that is make them in the community where they are going to live because a lot of the cost is the fabrication, not the artist's fee," Robertson-Swann said.
"Vertex was made at Finlayson Brothers, and they were somewhat sceptical of somebody coming from the big smoke and speaking slightly differently.
Finlayson Brothers Devonport was known for making the first car in Tasmania. Picture Facebook.
"I think the boys in the factory decided to have a bit of fun with me.
"When pouring molten iron, they did a couple of explosions, especially for me, so I was cringing in the corner of the foundry not to get sprayed with hot metal.
"There was no such thing as occupational health and safety, and some of them were in bloody thongs and t-shirts; it was very wild, and they had a great deal of fun with me."
Not offended Robertson-Swann called it "goodhearted fun."
"I'm sad the business is no longer there," he said.
Finlayson Brothers were known for making Tassie's first car, a two-cylinder, six-horsepower steam car in 1900.
Vertex sculpture gets a 40-year spruce up
"The brothers were very charming and helpful," Robertson-Swann said.
"They were basically making (Vertex), but I was there making it with them because of the degree of finish I wanted on the sculpture."
He recalled being "a moving target" of jest on his visits to Devonport.
"One of the funniest things was arriving at night, and the last airport cab had to fit everyone in two local engineers, someone else and me," he said.
"They asked to go past Finlayson's, and they were all p...... themselves laughing because this thing was emerging.
"It wasn't long after the Vault drama, and they called it the 'Red Peril.'
"They were all laughing, and then I said I made it, and stunned silence.
"The driver took me straight to my hotel, which wasn't the shortest route."
Robertson-Swann said he also worked as an artist in residence at Devonport TAFE as part of the deal.
Vertex sculpture gets a 40-year spruce up
Using materials from the foundry where he made Vertex he created another work he called North Down.
He said it was after the "beautiful North Down property that goes down to the sea" owned by the Thomas family.
Paranaple Convention and Arts Centre director Geoff Dobson contacted the sculptor 18 months ago to ask what colour to repaint Vertex.
"It's in excellent structural condition but has lost its top coat sheen and worn down to the red undercoat," Mr Dobson said.
Vertex was painted using a product that's defunct.
Mr Dobson emailed paint company Wattyl for help.
"Their technical support chemist gave us the equivalent product and a sample," he said.
He was then able to procure the products to replicate the sculpture's original coating.
"It will be wonderful to bring it back to its original standard, particularly on the eve of other major public art projects happening in the city," Mr Dobson said.
Late last year Devonport called for expressions of interest from artists for a series of iconic public art commissions worth $1.15 million for two state and federally-funded projects, the $3m State Vehicle Entry Point and the $1.25 m North-West Gateway Improvements projects.
Mr Dobson said the council received some excellent submissions.
"We're working through them," he said.
"The city will soon start to see all that come together.
"It's great that people can travel around the city and be exposed to that sort of public art."
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