Big Swoop

Last updated
Big Swoop
Big Swoop December 2022.jpg
Completion date2022
Subject Australian magpie
Location Civic, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Coordinates 35°16′42.8″S149°7′54.8″E / 35.278556°S 149.131889°E / -35.278556; 149.131889

Big Swoop is a sculpture located in Petrie Plaza, Civic, Australian Capital Territory. [1] [2] The sculpture was funded by a grant from the City Renewal Authority. [3] It depicts an Australian magpie pecking at a chip. [4] The sculpture was installed in Garema Place on 16 March 2022. [5] 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. [4] The sculpture was vandalised shortly after it was installed. [6] The sculpture was sent to Sydney for repairs in April 2022. [3]

Big Swoop was fully repaired and brought back in December 2022. [7] 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. [8] [9]

In November 2024, the sculpture was relocated a short distance to the nearby Petrie Plaza, to allow restoration work to be carried out on Garema Place. [2]

References

  1. ↑ "Community activations and street art awarded placemaking grants". Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate . Government of the Australian Capital Territory. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  2. 1 2 Staff Reporters (7 November 2024). "Big Swoop flies the coop: Giant magpie has moved to a new location". The Canberra Times . Retrieved 6 December 2024.(subscription required)
  3. 1 2 Doherty, Megan (3 September 2022). "Good news: Big Swoop is coming home to Garema Place soon". The Canberra Times . Retrieved 11 February 2023.(subscription required)
  4. 1 2 Neale, Hannah (19 March 2022). "Big Swoop magpie sculpture welcomed to Garema Place". The Canberra Times . Retrieved 11 February 2023.(subscription required)
  5. ↑ Doherty, Megan (16 March 2022). "Celebrate Big Swoop's arrival in Garema Place on Saturday with free hot chips". The Canberra Times . Retrieved 11 February 2023.(subscription required)
  6. ↑ Dohety, Megan (24 March 2022). "Yanni Pounartzis's Big Swoop magpie artwork vandalised hours after Garema Place unveiling". The Canberra Times . Retrieved 11 February 2023.(subscription required)
  7. ↑ https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8005467/big-swoop-is-back-home-and-looking-pretty-fly/ (subscription required)
  8. ↑ "Giant magpie swoops in to join Australia's top 'big things' on collectible coins from Royal Australian Mint". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2023-09-04. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  9. ↑ "Aussie Big Things". Australia Post Shop. Australia Post. Retrieved 2023-09-18.


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