The Andamooka Tiger
The Andamooka Tiger, is Cal the Stoner’s 15th intricarved Grampians sandstone artwork and the most intricate in his body of work to date.
8,000 hours of intense concentration later and… Cal sculpted relentlessly for over three years. In February 2022 he completed The Andamooka Tiger.
There is nothing coincidental nor accidental about this sculpture! Each blow of the hammer and chisel is a minor study.
The form and feature of every stone is intently studied and hand crafted by the sculptor to serve it's place within the sculpture.
Cal the Stoner had a very specific vision in creating The Andamooka Tiger.
He sculpted to portray a very specific moment in a tiger's natural time. While relaxing on a large grassy rock, it is in the split second of being disturbed. The tiger's claws have slid out. His lips form a snarl. His low threatening growl escapes his mouth.
The year of the tiger!
Year of the tiger!
Cal the Stoner and The AOFTA presented The Andamooka Tiger unveiling at the Andamooka sculpture studio on Saturday 16th April.. The township of Andamooka doubled in size. People came from the local community and many more from all around. In grand style The Andamooka Tiger was unveiled under the desert skies by the Hon. Chris Schacht. Brisbane stoner rock band Death by Carrot performed live. View the unveiling event photo gallery
The Year of the Tiger!
The unveiling event was made possible by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, which supports the arts in regional and remote Australia and sponsors from the Andamooka community.
The unveiling event was made possible by
Cal and The Andamooka Tiger, perfecting the gaze.
Cal started sculpting The Andamooka Tiger in the lively town of St Kilda in August 2018.
A move was made in March 2019 to the outback opal mining town of Andamooka. Here the sculpture began it’s metamorphosis into an Andamooka opal clawed, toothed, eyed and tail tipped intricarved stone sculpture.
“A tender moment, something very rare with Andamooka tigers, but we’re pals and he had something in one of his eyes. Eyes that have a way of commanding your attention when they’re looking at you.” Sculptor's log Jan 2022
Though some of the individual stone faces are the size of a small coin they have a depth of 25mm (1 inch) to 100mm (4 inches).
No stones are a thin facade like a tile. Every stone has depth and strength. What’s seen of a stone might be small, but it goes in the depth of 80mm or 3 inches.
Drawing on the artisan trade of dry stone. Cal is able to deliberately create stone artworks that tell their own story.
Sculpting The Andamooka Tiger
Rory and The Andamooka Tiger compare paws
Cal shapes the striped chest detail
The Andamooka Tiger beginnings
The structural metal base and rough skeleton were welded together. by friend and collaborator, Duncan Feldman. Sculpting commenced at The Theatre Research Institute warehouse in Williamstown, Victoria.
Sculpting The Andamooka Tiger
Photo Gallery
