sourced from Melbourne Zoo
Fifty elephant calves migrate to Melbourne
The streets of Melbourne will host a herd of 50 fibreglass sculptures custom-made in the shape of Melbourne Zoo’s famous Asian Elephant calf, Mali, as a major community event on Melbourne Zoo’s 150th birthday celebration calendar.
In August and September 2012, the life-sized sculptures will transform the city’s streets, parks, and public spaces into an open-air visual extravaganza of colourful stories, art, and creativity.
Melbourne Zoo Director Kevin Tanner said the Zoo was calling on Melbourne’s business community to be part of the Mali in the City event by sponsoring a Mali sculpture.
“Come August, we will be locating 50 Malis throughout the City in celebration of our 150th year and to spread the word about why it is so important that we save animals from extinction,” Mr Tanner said.
The custom-designed herd of Malis will be on display throughout the City for 6 weeks. At the end of the year, the Malis will be auctioned, with all proceeds going to the Zoo’s conservation work to fight the extinction of animals in Australia and overseas.
From April 2012, sponsors will be able to select from the submitted designs, or they can even choose to commission their preferred artist. Sponsorships are $5,000 for a designed Mali or $4,500 for sponsors who wish to arrange their own artists.
Mr Tanner has also called on artists to be part of the project by putting forward their designs for the Malis.
“Each fibreglass elephant is a blank 3D canvas, and we want artists to create innovative, inspiring and environmentally conscious designs to grace our herd of Malis.”
The Zoo is delighted to announce that renowned Australian artist David Bromley will paint two sculptures and also serve as the Mali in the City Art Patron.
From now until the 16 April 2012 artists can submit designs, with successful submissions being commissioned in May 2012.
To sponsor a Mali or to put forward an artist’s Expression of Interest visit http://www.zoo.org.au/50-Life-size-Malis-to-descend-on-Melbournes-CBD
