A major attraction is the fascinating Watergarden and hygromorphomatics, the term Don Murchison uses to describe the artistic harvesting of rainwater, to create artificial streams, ponds and waterfalls, with real sound dynamics of moving water. Sensors operate the main waterfalls, so do not be surprised if a waterfall flourishes right before your very eyes! At night, special atmospherics & colourful nature-inspired lights, from Zhongzhen Lighting Company in China, add to the spectacle.
Please wear suitable footwear for a rustic rainforest environment. - High heels are definitely not recommended! A small torch is suggested for Saturday nights, for those without good eyesight, as lighting is subdued and atmospheric. Care must be taken, especially at night. Please ask if assistance is needed when negotiating the sandstone steps. There is no provision for wheelchairs.
JUNGLE CHALET
Valleyview Glen,
Corner Innes Rd & Valley View Crescent,
GREENWICH,
Sydney.
Ph. 9906 2350.
...By the Reservoir.When Don Murchison commissioned the elephant from Timbron, he was soon to discover the reality of the ageless question - How many people does it take to lift an elephant? The answer was to be found in a journey of discover with admiration for the ancient Egyptians, the pyramid builders & basic engineering techniques combined with brute force & ropes! The result was that 5 men took 5 hours to move it 50 metres down hill to its final resting place, without the aide of robotics!!!
Part of Reservoir Illusion.Don Murchison has visited China on 9 occasions during the past 6 years. On his visits Don has been surprised & often fascinated by the variety of artforms that until recently have not been visible to the outside world. He has visited studios that are often in remote countryside locations. One of his discoveries is the Timbron Sculptures. In China, sculptors tend to work for private companies. Often a team of artists will work on a given piece. This is quite different to the way we operate, where each sculptor receives due recognition for his work & tends to work in isolation.
Kissing Couple by Pluto Pond.Don commissioned & imported 12 Timbron sculptures, which now form the major part of the Sculptured Rainforest Walk, at the Jungle Chalet Exhibition. Don't ask Don how they got here...he could write a book about it! Some of the sculpture was carried down the 76 steps, many of them narrow sandstone steps...but the last straw was to call in the services of a helicopter! Each sculpture is made of marble & weighs up to 600 kilos!!! The sculpture is now a permanent fixture, & Don will take orders from people interested in buying similar sculptures for their own homes.
The Gorilla In The Mist.The elephant is the latest commissioned sculpture from TIMBRON. This provided the theme for the 2010 Exhibition: 'Every Home Needs An Elephant.' You will be amazed, even awestruck, by how realistic it looks in the rainforest settling. Kids & adults alike are intrigued when it spouts water through its trunk as they walk past!
The Elephant ~ along with effects!
One of the largest studio businesses Don visited specialises in exquisite functional sculpture & stoneware. The craftpersonship of HaoXiang is outstanding. The Haoxiang visit was a real adventure, but worth it...After being dumped by a taxi in the sticks & hours from Xiamen, Don was determined to discover some sculptured gems. He & his female Chinese friend then had to hop on a motorbike taxi, in rain & near zero temperature...eventually finding Haoxiang! Luckily the motor bike then took them to a remote bus stop where they were fortunate to catch the last bus back to Xiamen! The weight of the beautiful marble frog and owl stool are very deceiving. It took 4 strong men to manoeuvre the smallest sculpture into position!
Ask Don if you are interested in seeing the range of marble sculpture available.
Annie Labriola is a well known artist, painter, sculptor & teacher. For more information on her paintings, see the Art Room Exhibition.
The special Saturday night viewing of the Watergarden features colourful lights, fog effects & atmospherics. There is plenty of intrigue for adults & children alike..
The Jungle Chalet is Don's creation - from colourful waterfalls, streams & ponds to leadlight windows, to a labyrinth in the driveway, glass-art letterbox...with all on display. These & the various stages of the Watergarden Installation form an intricate & integral component of the unique Jungle Chalet. Don has personally placed every piece of sandstone & every pebble, to replicate nature in a miniature wonderland.
If you have a glass-art idea for your home, are interested in a water feature, or interested in the sculpture, fountains or root furniture, talk to Don about it this weekend. If he can't personally design & create it for you, he will be able to commission it through another artist & even import fabulous sculptures with his contacts overseas if appropriate.
As you venture down & past the Jungle Chalet you will see beautiful artistic & nature inspired leadlight windows, which will be lit up for night time viewing.
Don is best known as a Comedian who writes customised comedy for all occasions, from birthdays to Corporate occasions, like conferences and Christmas parties. His trademark 'Chookmobile' art-car is probably the most photographed vehicle in Australasia, and has toured extensively with Don throughout Australia [surviving the Nulabour Plains & skifields to the sea], as well as appearing in photo albums and newspapers throughout the World. If only Don could claim 1¢ per photo, his next 'Chookmobile' would surely be a 'Paltry Porche'. Don is transforming his home into a natural artscape, with prolific installations to replicate the movement of water. The past 7 exhibitions have featured stages of his Watergarden Installation. You will enjoy the Reservoir Illusion and the Sculptured Rainforest Walk. When the pumps are operating, the Jungle Chalet is now 90% circumnavigated by water. Leadlight panels created by Don adorn many of the windows. On Saturday nights these will be lit up & combined with colourful flower lights, streams & waterfalls...in a fascinating wonderland...So come & enjoy the ambience of art with nature.
Tea, Coffee & light snacks will again be available for a nominal amount.
This is a beautiful location for meeting friends, with awesome views of the 'Reservoir Illusion", sculpture & rainforest.
This year takeaway spicy Chinese noodles will be available for lunches on Thursday 1st September until [& including] Sunday 4th September, from Noon until 2 pm. Chinese dinners will also be available on Saturday 3rd September, at 7 pm. This enables working people to visit the exhibition during their lunch break on Thursday & Friday, with an opportunity for people who work locally, but live outside the area, to visit the Exhibition & Watergarden. Visitors can now enjoy dinner while visiting the exhibition. Lunches & dinner must be pre-booked, by ringing the Jungle Chalet on: 9906 2350 , with at least 4 hours notice & preferably on the previous day. Diners must be visiting the Watergarden Artscape & can enjoy their meals on the lower deck, which is set in the mini-rainforest, overlooking the Reservoir Illusion & Sculptured Rainforest Walk.
Admission prices have not increased & are the same as 2010.
* There is an admission charge to the Watergarden, Sculptured Rainforest Walk, Reservoir Illusion & Lower Exhibition Display Areas: DAY TIME: Adults: $8, Secondary Pupils: $5, Children under 12: $3.50, Toddlers free. Family Pass: $17.
* A night time display of colourful lights, water features & effects will enchant adults and children alike. Admission to the Special Saturday night Watergarden Display is: Adults: $12, 2ndry Pupils: $6, Children under 12: $4, Toddlers free. Family Pass: $23. All outdoor areas of the exhibition will be open at night. The Art Room is closed at this time, but Don will open the Art Room from 9 pm - 9.30 pm, for Saturday night visitors who have been enjoying the visual night time displays. [It is closed from 7 pm - 9 pm, due to the subdued atmospheric lighting & special lighting displays & effects.
* Following a trial last year, there is a repeat discounted Family Daytime Entry Pass of $12. There is also repeat discounted Family Night time Entry Pass of $18. This will help families who like to visit on more than one occasion. [Third & subsequent family visits are half price, but you must keep your ticket, have it signed at the door & then sign for each visit.]
* There is also a combined Day and Night Family Pass of $30 [which is a saving of $10.] This must be purchased at the first visit. A repeat second night & day family pass is only $20 [half price!] & a third night & day family pass is by donation [of your discretion!] Visiting family members must visit together & not separately for family passes. To get the repeat discounted prices the original ticket must be kept & signed by the same person on each visit.
* If your family visits either the day or night sessions, but you don't buy a combined pass, but decide you would like to visit the other session, you can present you first pass for $5 discount on a return visit.
The Jungle Chalet is set in a unique rainforest setting, bordering the Lane Cove Bushland Park. Don Murchison, has been renovating his house in an original & fascinating design, that blends in & complements the rainforest environment.
We welcome you to pop in over the exhibition weekends & encourage you to bring your friends who may be interested in browsing, buying or commissioning. This opportunity only arises once a year.
N.B. Eftpos & credit cards are NOT accepted. Cash and cheques are welcome.
COMEDY SPECIALISTS
The Jungle Chalet,
Valleyview Glen,
Cnr Valleyview Cres. & Innes Rd,
Greenwich,
SYDNEY, NSW, 2065.
AUSTRALIA.
| jungle.chalet.art@comedyspecialists.com.au | |
| Phone: | 61 - 2 - 9906 2350. (9am - 6pm, Monday - Friday. Answer phone after hours.) |
| Mobile: | [Best to call the landline as reception is not good in the jungle!] |
This page was last amended 9.8.2011.