Terrance Kippax Plowright (born 31 March 1949) is an Australian sculptor, based in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. His works include contemporary and figurative sculptures. He has designed and created large public sculptural water features and murals, substantial public cenotaphs, commemorative cast bronze sculptures, and a large body of religious and spiritual work that includes stained glass windows, altars, lecterns, baptismal fonts and mosaics.Harrington, Katherine. "Archived bulletin : Terrance Plowright". The Sculptors Society. http://www.sculptorssociety.com/pagedetail.aspx?pageid=126&categoryid=9
Biography and early career
Plowright was born in Paddington, New South Wales. In 1966, he worked as a copy boy for The Australian Women's Weekly, then trained and worked as a film editor for the ABC."Mountains sculptor unlocks magic in Anzac legend", Blue Mountains Gazette, Wednesday, 4 September 1991, page 5 He studied music privately for a short time at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and was the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for a number of bands. He developed a keen interest in science, philosophy and music. In 1975, he founded the Awareness Centre in Sydney, and also spent time in the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland.Bryant, Judy. "A master of glass shares the spirit". The West Australian, Friday 19 November 1993, page 12 He conducted workshops around human potential and spiritual awareness. His works, in the past 30 years, have endeavoured to explore these themes and to reveal the connection between all living things.
In 1981, Plowright pursued his emerging interest in fine art and spent nine months in New Zealand, where he furthered a growing interest in stained glass creation. In 1983, he established his first studio at Wahroonga in New South Wales.Laginestra, Fay. "No need to go to church to see stained glass: Expert can put some in your home wall", North Shore Advocate, 1983"Hazel launches artists (sic) new book", Blue Mountains Gazette, 13 October 1993, page 27
In 1985, he created a large stained glass window for a private client.McClymont, Kate. "Smashing Glass", Sydney Morning Herald [Style], Thursday 30 May 1985 In the same year, he was selected as one of two Australian artists to represent Australian glass artists at the Sydney Craft Expo. His first major piece, also in 1985, a commissioned stained glass window, was a memorial to the Royal New South Wales Regiment for the Garrison Church, in The Rocks, Sydney.Ainsworth, Robyn. "Grief of war told in glass", North Shore Times, Wednesday, 21 August 1985, page 5Australian Council of Churches, Volume 38, No. 1, July 1991 In 1988, Plowright created one of the country's then-largest stained glass windows, installed in Galston Uniting Church."Artist completes one of country's largest works", Blue Mountains Gazette, Wednesday 3 August 1988, page 42 Another significant work was an 11 x 3m stained glass window, commissioned by St Bernadette's in Castle Hill, New South Wales."Church combines tradition with new technology". Hills News, Tuesday 9 December 1997, page 33"Artist sheds new light on Jesus". Blue Mountains Gazette, Wednesday 19 November 1997, front page His large stained glass piece The Gathering of the Most Sacred was created for an exhibition for the World Council of Churches in 1990. This piece and Living Waters were also exhibited at the Penrith Regional Gallery and the Lewers Bequest Glass Show in 1991."A touch of glass", Western Weekender, 15 November 1991, page 4"Now a triumph in stained glass", Blue Mountains Gazette, 20 November 1991, page 55
In 1990, he completed a granite, aluminium and beveled glass sculpture, Purity of Spirit, for Neeta City in Fairfield, New South Wales (now in a private collection).Shields, Mark. "Solidarity and Purity", Craft Arts Number 20,1990 He was invited by the World Council of Churches to be the sculptor and artist-in-residence at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory in 1991."Leura artist shows work in Canberra", Blue Mountains Gazette, Wednesday, 6 February 1991 His works, created during the two-week conference, were televised to over 120 countries.Blue Mountains Gazette, Wednesday 4 September 1991, page 5 Also in 1991, Plowright was commissioned by the Penrith Returned and Services League to design and create a bronze sculpture, a tribute to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps at Gallipoli.Gainsford, Jim. "Gallipoli comes to life at Penrith RSL Club", RCA Club Life News Pictorial, Vol 6, No. 11, October 1991, page 17"Ruxton graces us with his presence", Western Weekender, 30 August 1991, page 2"Zuel, Bernard. Gallipoli memorial in bronze: Club unveils one more reminder", Penrith Press, Tuesday, September 3, 1991, page 15
His book, Stained Glass:Inspirations and Designs, was written in 1993, and launched by Hazel Hawke.
Works
2020: Plowright is currently working on a life-size Sam Male Project with cast bronze figure and contemporary Corten Steel sculpture to be installed in Broome, Western Australia. 2019/2020: Plowright has completed a 3m high, cast bronze sculpture of Tayla Harris - "Not just a kick" - to be installed at Docklands Stadium, Docklands, MelbourneHolsworth, Mark. "More than a kick". WordPress, 18 September 2019 2019: He created a 2.2m high, cast bronze and glass sculpture with sequenced lighting - Eternal Flame - for Bathurst City Council.Watson, Matt. "Eternal Flame at Bathurst War Memorial Carillon to be replaced by bronze sculpture", Western Advocate, 1 April 2019 2013/2014: He has completed a 15m/50foot high contemporary sculpture, a national project celebrating 60,000 years of nationhood. This is to be installed in the River Torrens, near the Adelaide Oval.Curtin, Jennie. "Terrance Plowright, OAM, for services to the visual arts", Blue Mountains Gazette, 26 January 2019
Achievements 2019: Awarded Order of Australia medal (OAM) for his services to the visual arts.Curtin, Jennie. "Terrance Plowright, OAM, for services to the visual arts". Blue Mountains Gazette, 26 January 2019 2015: Invited to exhibit at the X Florence Biennale 2015: Awarded 4th place for sculpture in 2015 Florence Biennale 2015: Invited to exhibit at the New York art gallery, Artifact 2014: He was a finalist in the McClelland Sculpture Survey and Award 2014 at the McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery in Melbourne. 2013: Invited to exhibit at the IX Florence Biennale, and received a Medici Medal and Special Mention for artistic and sculptural contribution to sculpture at the Biennale 2012: Tubular Resonance. Plowright was a finalist in the McClelland Sculpture Prize in Melbourne for his 5m stainless steel interactive sound sculpture. 2012/13: Winner of the City of Frankston People's Choice Award at the McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery,Desiatnik, Shane. "New honour for sculptor Terrance Plowright". Blue Mountains Gazette, 10 July 2013The Sculptors Society Bulletin, July–August 2013, front page and page 3 for Tubular Resonance',Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: which was purchased by McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery, Melbourne
Other works
Plowright has created many figurative and contemporary works, and water features, from both public and private commissions, including: Elvis Presley in 2018: a larger-than-life-size, cast bronze sculpture for Parkes City Council.Raynor, Mark. "Statue of Elvis Presley honours the importance of the Parkes Elvis Festival and the man himself to town". Parkes Champion Post, January 13, 2018 Basil Sellers in 2018: a larger-than-life-size, cast bronze bust, private collection. George Jones (Air Marshall Sir George Jones) WW2 and Frank McNamara (Air Vice-Marshall Frank McNamara) VC recipient, WW1 in 2016: larger than life-size busts, Shepparton Council in conjunction with Australian War Memorial.Pedlar, Chris. "Family pride at airmen's honours". Bendigo Advertiser, 20 March 2017 St. Thomas Aquinas in 2016: 80m stained glass, Australian Catholic University, St Thomas Aquinas Chapel, Ballarat campus.McMillan, Ashleigh. "St Thomas Aquinas Chapel shines as part of Open House Ballarat Gallery". The Courier, 28 October 2017 Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth in 2015: larger-than-life-size cast bronze busts. Gregory Blaxland installed in Blaxland, William Lawson installed in Lawson and William Wentworth installed in Wentworth Falls, all in the Blue Mountains, NSW.Lewis, B.C. "Bust unveiled of explorer Wentworth". Blue Mountains Gazette, 23 May 2016Greenhill, Mark. "Bust of explorer Gregory Blaxland unveiled in Blue Mountains". Blue Mountains Gazette, 15 May 2016Blue Mountains Gazette. "Lawson's history on display". Blue Mountains Gazette, 6 June 2016 Robert Mactier, World War I Victoria Cross recipient: in 2013/2014: a 2m high bronze portrait commissioned by the City of Greater Shepparton and the Tatura RSL, Victoria, unveiled on 31 October 2014.Desiatnik, Shane. "Honour for sculptor". The Blue Mountains Gazette, Wednesday 7 November 2012, page 12 Lachlan Macquarie in 2013: 3m high cast bronze sculpture for the Government of New South Wales, Hyde Park, Sydney.Desiatnik, Shane. "History buffs bust a move". The Blue Mountains Gazette, Wednesday 6 February 2013, page 7 Avian Gesture 3 in 2012: A stainless steel contemporary work exhibited at Sculpture at Scenic World.Sculpture at Scenic World, Exhibition 2012 booklet. Pages 12 and 18 Vietnamese Boat People Memorial in 2011: Bronze sculpture, including four 3/4 life-size figures and boat. Memorial for 500,000 Vietnamese who perished at sea in voyages from Vietnam. Commissioned by the Bankstown City Council. Life Teeming-Life Teaming in 2011: A 4m stainless steel sculpture commissioned by the Waverley Council for Bondi Junction,."Plowright wins prestigious Bondi sculpture commission". The Blue Mountains Gazette, Wednesday 22 July 2009, page 22The Sculptors Society, July - August 2011, front page Eternal Flame in 2012: 1.5m stainless steel work incorporating 49 LED lights controlled for sequenced lighting. Penrith Memory Park War Memorial, Penrith, New South Wales. Steve Waugh in 2012: 1¼ life size, cast bronze sculpture at Sydney Cricket Ground."Local sculptor provides Test highlight". Blue Mountains Gazette, Wednesday 12 January 2011, front page Commissioned as part of the Basil Sellers Sports Sculpture Project.http://www.scgt.nsw.gov.au/history/sportspeople/basil-sellers-sports-sculptures-project/ Tribute to Beethoven's Sixth in 2011: A contemporary work of cast 316 stainless steel exhibited at Darling Park Sculptors Society Exhibition. Reg Gasnier and Stan McCabe in 2010: 1¼ life size, cast bronze sculptures at Sydney Football Stadium and Sydney Cricket Ground respectively.http://www.scgt.nsw.gov.au/history/sportspeople/basil-sellers-sports-sculptures-project/reg-gasnier/ Huxley, John."Wrestling figures into existence in a new Bronze Age". The Sydney Morning Herald, Wednesday 3 March 2010, page 11"Immortalised in bronze". The Blue Mountains Gazette, Wednesday 27 January 2010, page 2Jackson, Glen and Matt Buchanan. "SCG gets its third bronzed Aussie Cricketer". The Sydney Morning Herald, Wednesday 6 January 2010, page 31 Commissioned as part of the Basil Sellers Sports Sculpture Project. Life from a Suitcase in 2010: Nine bronze larger than life figures of three generations of the Signorelli family at Pyrmont Bay ferry wharf, Sydney, celebrating early immigration to Australia.Huxley, John. "Out of mourning a monument in praise of migrants". The Sydney Morning Herald Weekend Edition, 6–7 February 2010, page 13Huxley, John. "Bronzed Aussies celebrate migrant past". The Sydney Morning Herald, 19 March 2010, page 3 Awakening Flower of Peace in 2010: A 5m high, stainless steel work in Gough Whitlam Park, Sydney. Commissioned by the City of Canterbury.