Big Swoop Explained

Italic Title:no
Big Swoop
Subject:Australian magpie
City:Civic, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Completion Date:2022
Coordinates:-35.2786°N 149.1319°W

Big Swoop is a sculpture located in Garema Place, Civic, Australian Capital Territory.[1] The sculpture was funded by a grant from the City Renewal Authority.[2] It depicts an Australian magpie pecking at a chip.[3] The sculpture was installed in Garema Place on 16 March 2022.[4] Big Swoop weighs half a tonne, is 2.4 metres high and 3.5 metres long, and was created by Canberra resident and artist Yanni Pounartzis. The sculpture was vandalised shortly after it was installed.[5] The sculpture was sent to Sydney for repairs in April 2022.

Big Swoop was fully repaired and brought back in December 2022.[6] It is now a permanent fixture of Garema Place and considered to be one of Australia's "big things". It was selected for the Royal Australian Mint's and Australia Post's 2023 "Aussie Big Things" coin and stamp set.[7] [8]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Community activations and street art awarded placemaking grants . . . 11 February 2023 . 28 October 2021.
  2. News: Doherty . Megan . Good news: Big Swoop is coming home to Garema Place soon . 11 February 2023 . . 3 September 2022.
  3. News: Neale . Hannah . Big Swoop magpie sculpture welcomed to Garema Place . 11 February 2023 . . 19 March 2022.
  4. News: Doherty . Megan . Celebrate Big Swoop's arrival in Garema Place on Saturday with free hot chips . 11 February 2023 . . 16 March 2022.
  5. News: Dohety . Megan . Yanni Pounartzis's Big Swoop magpie artwork vandalised hours after Garema Place unveiling . 11 February 2023 . . 24 March 2022.
  6. https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8005467/big-swoop-is-back-home-and-looking-pretty-fly/
  7. Web site: Giant magpie swoops in to join Australia's top 'big things' on collectible coins from Royal Australian Mint. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2023-09-04. 2023-09-04.
  8. Web site: Aussie Big Things. Australia Post. 2023-09-18.