Photographer Niki Magelakis has captured the essence and spirit of the William Ricketts sculptures in the sanctuary of the same name.
William Ricketts was a potter and a sculptor whose work is displayed in the William Ricketts sanctuary in the Dandenongs.
Niki will be celebrating a life’s work by exhibiting photographic images of the sculptures.
After living in the Dandenongs for five years, Niki enjoyed the serenity of the sanctuary and started to photograph the sculptures. With the collection she gained, she decided to exhibit the images, but due to copyright she was told she could display the images but not sell them so she decided to do a fundraiser. The exhibition is a fundraiser for the sanctuary with all donations raised being forwarded to the preservation of the works.
“I wanted to get the message out about the sanctuary because not many people know about it, and I want people in Melbourne to visit,” said Niki. “I think people should take the time out to visit as it’s one of the most unique sculptured gardens in the world.
“And he was a very shy man who I don’t think promoted himself in his lifetime but as an artist, there must have been something he wanted to communicate.”
The William Ricketts Sanctuary: A series of photographic images exhibition opens on Saturday 14 April, at The Hut Gallery, 157 Underwood Road, Ferntree Gully Victoria. For information on the exhibition, you can contact artist Niki Magelakis on 0402 231 144.