True North

A series of four sculptures made from both ocean and river buoys, Donna Marcus’ public artwork, True North, references Mackay’s mining industry, nautical history, and current function as a working port and marina. Commissioned by LendLease as part of the Caneland Shopping Centre redevelopment, the body coloured work includes two black and yellow pieces hung under the shopping centre entrance, and two red and white pieces located across the road on the Blue Water Trail.

The work was constructed using 6mm custom virgin polyethylene marine buoys with grade 316 stainless steel support structures. The pieces range from 4m – 9m in diameter and have solar powered lights on the tips of the star-like forms. Lit in this way they act as beacons at night and appear as if floating beside the river. Influenced by rural and industrial structures, as well as the principles of Buckminister Fuller, True North follows on from Macrus’ continue interest in combining existing and often familiar and used objects to create new forms.