Argenton

Gus Eagleton & Bronte Naylor, Weekend Ride

2022, acrylic on aluminium composite. 10m x 2m

Located opposite Waratah Street in Argenton along the Glendale to Speers Point Shared Pathway.

Weekend Ride is a public artwork that sees artists Gus Eagleton, Meanjin (Brisbane) based, and Bronte Naylor, Awabakal (Newcastle) collaborating on Awaba Country (Lake Macquarie). The duo have documented daily happenings, leisure and the natural environment from a bike path connecting Glendale and Speers Point.

Firstly, the artists facilitated a collage workshop with Edgeworth Memorial Neighbourhood Centre to inform the project, talking with young people about life in Lake Macquarie while creating artworks of their own.

The artists then rode from Glendale to Speers Point, taking photos of what they saw and pursuing the activities offered along the pathway. They stopped to chat with locals enjoying the day - talking with fishermen, an artist who was drawing in Plein air and young people playing in the park, taking turns on the flying foxes.

These first-hand experiences, combined with knowledge sourced from the locals, inform the work. The artwork represents a weekend ride down the shared pathway from Glendale to Speers Point, following Cockle Creek. Viewers can observe the rider enjoying the beautiful scenic views, wildlife and locals enjoying the weekend fishing, riding, and picnics. Speers Point is a popular leisure destination for recreation and weekend fun for the community.

The artwork is part of the Lake Macquarie City Council Urban and Public Art Collection.