Whyalla officially has the best sculpture in Australia, with its Accessible Cuttlefish Throne winning the Gold Award for the Best Landmark Sculpture at the 2021 Australian Street Art Awards.
Whyalla’s inclusive cuttlefish throne, affectionately known as Craig, was created by artist Karen Carr as a celebration of the city’s marine ecosystem.
Competition judges said the sculpture was a functional piece that also honoured a spectacular local marine species and had been designed with accessibility in mind, making it a winning combination.
“The fact that local volunteers pulled together to work with the artist is evidence of the degree of pride that Whyalla residents have for their Eyre Peninsula home,” the judges said.
“We love that this effigy of a giant cuttlefish has also been given an ordinary name, Craig, signalling the protective feelings that the community obviously has for these majestic marine beauties.”
Whyalla City Council Cultural Facilitator, Deb Hughes said it was fantastic to have Cuttlefish Craig bring home the gold award.
“Craig really is an incredible work and the journey to his creation was something that the community should be proud of,” she said.
“There were many hours of work put in to support this project. Nine full days of workshops with well over 40 people contributing to the outcome and construction.”
Mayor, Clare McLaughlin said she was beyond proud that the functional artwork had scored the national award.
“We know that the community and visitors to our town love Craig. The artwork highlights the importance of looking after our marine environment and pays homage to our most beloved tourist attraction,” Mayor McLaughlin said.
