Hidden deep in an Australian rainforest, the clay sculptures of William Ricketts express the Aborigines’ deep connection with Mother Nature.
Born in 1898, William Ricketts was an Australian sculptor and potter who developed a spiritual bond with the Aboriginal people of Central Australia. The time he spent with them, between 1949 and 1960 inspired his works in Potter’s Sanctuary (now known as William Ricketts Sanctuary).
The 92 intricate ceramic sculptures placed along the passageways seem as they are merging with the surrounding plant-life, thus expressing the strong bond Aborigines have always had with nature. Designed as a place where man’s spirit becomes one with nature, William Ricketts Sanctuary inspires us all to protect Mother Nature instead of constantly exploiting her.
William Ricketts spent most of his life in this sanctuary, located on Mount Dandenong, near Olinda, and died here, in 1993, at the age of 94.
Alas, this garden no longer exists.
A massive bushfire swept through the area in Victoria, Australia, 3 years ago, destroying hundreds of homes, many hectares of forest, including the private gardens where these sculptures were.
Some local artists are trying to replicate the carvings but it may never happen.
Mikey – that is not true. William Ricketts Sanctuary remains. It is in a wet rainforest gully in a comparatively lower fire risk part of the Dandenong Ranges. It did, however, sustain some wind/weather damage a few weeks ago. Hopefully all the sculptures all intact.