Colin Dunstone may not look like an artist but give him a welding iron and some scrap metal and he can create works of art that grab people’s attention.
His gallery is a little unconventional too – it’s the entrance to the driveway of his property, between Bourke and Byrock on the Mitchell Highway.
While many people will recognise the big metal chicken that graces the entrance, as well as some year-round Christmas lights – a giant Rubik’s cube has now been added to the display. Colin, a former radio engineer, can build just about anything from anything, and his Rubik’s cube idea came about when he took delivery of several old ballast tanks.
“I bought the tanks about six months ago from Melbourne and had them transported up here and I installed the Rubik’s cube last Sunday,” Colin said.
“The ballast tanks were used in the old ships to transport things like pickles and were then filled with water to act as ballast for the trip home.
“This one was probably in sailing ships and a lot of them ended up here in Australia. “Each one holds about 400 gallons or about 15 to 1 hundred litres – and they are about a metre and a half square.“I got the idea when I was looking at a Rubik’s cube but then I had to actually build it.
“I first had to clean all the rust off, undercoat and then paint it which took a long time because it had to be painted in the exact colours.
“Everything is in the right place except for one panel which isn’t solved.
“The legs are bits of a radio tower, and the colours are from seven different tins of paint from the tip shop. Colin said the idea came to him as a “lockdown” project.
“I did it because it’s boring going up the highway and this is just something for the kids – and drivers – to see and enjoy.
“I have Christmas lights from three years ago and the big metal chook and people are always telling me how their kids always know when they’re going past my place!“It also helps me find my driveway in the dark,” Colin said.
Source: The Western Herald
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