An Artistic Eye

From behind the scenes to front of house, with Artistic Director Ben Eyles

LOCAL art identity and teacher Ben Eyles has been the Lake Light Sculpture Artistic Director since 2017, taking over the role from Todd Costa. This role followed on from Ben’s involvement for a number of years on the committee along with increasing success with his own sculptor journey.

Retracing that Lake Light journey from 2015’s ‘Pandamonium’ which was a favourite among visitors, Ben continued to investigate the fragility of nature and its many wondrous creatures, including 2016’s ‘Why so Blue ?’ - inspired by the Blue Whale, 2017’s ‘Now you see me: Soon you won’t’ - inspired by the Siberian Tiger, and 2018’s ‘Reverberate’ - inspired by the beauty of Lake Jindabyne and its people.

Ben’s sculpture journey took a political road with 2019’s ‘We’re gonna need more eggs’, which explored themes of racism and xenophobia. 2021’s ‘Lil’ Scotty from Marketing’ continued the political protest theme, whilst Ben’s major work ‘All Beyond is Worth Protecting’ proved to be a significant entry/departure focus for the Lake Light Sculpture Trail and was inspired by his love and respect for the environment and Japanese culture.

During his time as Artistic Director from 2017 to 2022, Ben has worked alongside the LLS Committee through a period of significant growth as well as major disruption with the 2020 Event being cancelled due to Covid, and the 2022 Event being unable to proceed due to high lake levels and flooded exhibition areas.

“Lake Light Sculpture has experienced a period of change and development over the past 6 years that will continue with a significant change in the location for the 2023 exhibition, but I am equally excited that this change to a predominantly Jindabyne street trail path will also inspire new and wondrous sculptures,” said Ben.

“When I became Artistic Director in 2017, I followed on from Todd’s focus on attracting ‘good art’ and encouraging artists to exhibit more than one sculpture, and it has been very satisfying to see the exhibition numbers grow from 75 in 2017, to 161 in 2021, which included the introduction of the ‘Smalls’ sculpture category in 2019.”

“As I reflect upon my contribution as LLS Artistic Director, I believe that maintaining an open dialogue and friendship with the exhibiting artists and wider arts community has provided a sense of connection and confidence with the event, alongside gaining an understanding of their individual and personal sculptor journeys - this is a critical relationship in building a successful and annual major exhibition, as without the artists, there is no event. In addition, as I review my notes throughout my term as Artistic Director, I am proud to see that my focus and belief that art plays a major role both locally and throughout the world, has been a recurring objective and theme,” Ben added.

A review of Ben’s Director’s notes over the years includes:

2017 - “With the political state of some places in the world, art is more important than ever to allow us to express ourselves freely, raise awareness of issues that we have a passion for, or to merely create something beautiful for others to enjoy.”

2018 - “One of the major objectives of the original organising team was that the event was for all artists, from amateurs and emerging artists, school and community groups, through to professional and exhibiting artists. We are committed to nurture and ensure that all budding artists have the opportunity to express themselves and showcase their artistic abilities.”

2019 - “By making art that reflects what we love in nature that we now have a chance of losing, we are raising awareness of certain issues, or simply reminding people of what is at stake if we don’t care for our environment.”

2021 - “Given the losses of 2020 with bush fires and Covid, it is worth remembering that art is something that endures, alongside the creativity of our wonderful artists and their ability to open the viewers’ eyes to the beauty and inspiration of our world”.

Lake Light Sculpture chairperson Cherie

McNair said, “The LLS Committee and the Snowy Monaro Community is deeply thankful for Ben’s significant contribution to the arts over the past 10 year period, and whilst Ben will move to assisting in the background in 2023 as he and his family explores a new location to call home in the future, his influence on the exhibition direction will continue on”.