However, that time is now up, and unless the Forbes Art Society can come up with the $20,000 needed to buy it, it will very soon be going back to sculptors Gillie and Marc Schattner.

The Pyramid sculpture was only ever on loan to Forbes Art Society for a period of 12 months, unless it was to win the $20,000 Sculpture Forbes Acquisition prize and thereby stay in Forbes as the first sculpture in the Somewhere Down the Lachlan sculpture trail.

That accolade instead went to Shadows on the Landing by Ingrid Morley.

Forbes Art Society and Somewhere Down the Lachlan founder Rosie Johnston want to let people know that the sculpture will be going.

“I just wanted to let people know that the 12 months is up and it’s time to go,” Ms Johnston said.

“We know some people have had a change of heart about it, so we want to let people know it’s going. We would be disappointed to hear people lament in hindsight ‘what a shame if we had known we would have rallied together to purchase it’.

“If it goes there will be quite a big gap in the park.”

While the sculpture has been in town for 12 months, it originally spent several months in a storage shed before it was unveiled to the public at the official opening of the Sculpture Forbes competition in October.

Ms Johnston said a source has come forward and said that it would consider matching fundraising efforts to buy the Pyramid sculpture, dollar for dollar.

“If we had some people, or businesses, that came up with $10,000 and it was matched, it could stay,” she said.

Ms Johnston said if people want to make donations they don’t necessarily have to donate specifically to the Pyramid, they are welcome to just make a donation for the Somewhere Down the Lachlan project for other potential purposes.

The Forbes Art Society have released a statement saying if the Pyramid sculpture goes, they hope to get another sculpture to take its place.

“Forbes Art Society and Somewhere Down the Lachlan do not have a view as to whether the sculpture should stay or go but do want to replace it ASAP and would like the community to get behind a purchase,” they said.

“Our purpose is always to expose our community to a wide range of quality art so they can broaden their horizons and appreciate what others think and say.”

The artists, Gillie and Marc Schattner have also released a statement saying they feel that the Pyramid now belongs in Forbes and they would love to see it stay here.

“We created Pyramid as a representation of diversity and friendship, and the balance we can all find within our own communities. Our Dogman and Rabbitgirl characters stand for accepting the difference in ourselves and in each other, and embracing what makes us unique,” they said. 

“This sculpture has found its perfect home in Forbes - we have had such positive feedback from everyone. People tell us that the sculpture cheers them up and makes them smile, and that makes us so happy.

“It has proved that a rural town like Forbes can appreciate art, and embrace contemporary art that pushes the boundaries. There’s nowhere we’d rather have our sculpture!”

If you would like to see the Pyramid sculpture stay in Forbes, you can make a donation by contacting Rosie Johnston on 0448 288 848 or Keith Mullette on 0416 127 364.

Opinion still divided on sculpture

Opinion has been divided over the Pyramid sculpture well before it even arrived in town and while some people’s views may have changed since then, it still proves to be a controversial piece of art.

With the time now come for it to go, some people’s opinions have been converted after seeing the positive impacts it has had on tourism in town, while others remain just as passionately for or against it.

The Advocate spoke to a number of people this week about how they felt about it and views seem to be just varied as ever.

Goldie Ridley said she is still a non-believer.

“I don’t like it and I don’t think it has any relevance to our town,” she said.

“I would not be in favour of seeking financial help from our Shire Council to extend the lease of the dog and rabbit sculpture because I do not think it has any relevance to our town and district or our past history.

“It’s better to have any money spent on items that depict our rich pastoral and agricultural background and the pioneers who have left us such a wonderful legacy.”

On the other hand, Jacqui Greig isn’t necessarily in love with the sculpture but can certainly see the benefits of it.

“The sculpture isn’t something that I would like in my own backyard, but it’s art, not home decor,” she said.

“And as a piece of art I think it does an excellent job of being a point of interest in our town.

“I’ve had visitors to town who I’ve shown the sculpture to and they were impressed. Regardless of people’s opinions, it’s a piece of art and art is meant to provoke controversy, so it’s doing it’s job.”

Frank Trager is a tourist from Western Australia who was passing through Forbes and said although the subject is not to his taste, the idea of a sculpture trail is a great one. “It’s very controversial as far as subject but the sculpture is very well done,” he said. “It would be a good feature to have something here.”

As the owner of Nock’s Newsagency, Ken Nock has heard plenty of opinions about the Pyramid, being located just a few doors down from Albion Park.

“Most of the comments have been positive particularly from people who live away,” he said.

“Some people think it’s world class and other people have said that they don’t agree with what it is and why you would have something like that in the park.

“If you remove the animal heads and add human heads, the artwork is very well done. It throws people when they see animal heads on a human body.

“I think there’s been a fairly constant stream of people in the park looking and photographing; it has captured people’s attention.”