Wayne Drops in on Gopher

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CreatorGerry WeddTitleWayne Drops in on GopherDate2019MediumCeramicDimensionsheight: 33.5cm; width: 20cm; depth: 20cm; Artist StatementTwo of my favourite taken by Mr John Witzig are Gopher’s King Bottom Turn (AKA Rodney Sumpter at Wategoes) and Wayne Lynch at Bells. They may not be as iconic or even as visually interesting as many other images taken by him but they speak (to me) of the experience of the act of surfing. Both of these images are surfers in full dance, oblivious (I hope) to anyone’s gaze. Both surfers are in the midst of a bottom turn, an act of acceleration, mid or at least pre mid-flight. I was interested in the gestural aspect of these photographs, the poise of the frozen moment. Unlike dance surfing is hard to rehearse, the stage is always moving and surging under you. I have re- drawn the Gopher image countless times as it takes me back to my earliest experiences of surfing. Interestingly both images feature ordinary waves. After drawing onto the pot I realised they were ‘dropping in’ on one another. I like the idea of two eras colliding on one wave.Accession Number084.2019Access AdviceFor research purposes only. No reproduction without permission of Yarrila Arts and Museum.

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Glazed ceramic vase depicting Rodney Sumpter surfing at Wategos Beach, Byron Bay, in 1962, and Wayne Lynch surfing at Bells Beach in 1968. Both images are based on photographs taken by John Witzig (please see Related Item).

Person DepictedWayne LynchRodney SumpterPlace DepictedByron Bay-NSWBells Beach-VICCollectionYAM Gallery CollectionPermanent ExhibitionAgencyYarrila Arts & Museum (YAM)Exhibition HistoryPermanent Exhibition