Visitors to the ground will be interested in the various artworks that have been installed in the northern stand under the MCG Redevelopment Artworks program (2002-06).
A significant budget was set aside so that artists could be commissioned to create distinctive, sport-related works for display. And there was no shortage of creativity.
Penelope Lee developed “Kicking the Leather”, three huge ovals made of leather offcuts and old and new footballs that occupy two levels of a concrete surface in the Olympic Stand atrium.
In the same stand are Victor Rubin’s “Legendary Moments”, oils on linen of footy greats Ron Barassi and Jack Dyer in full flight.
Mathew Greentree’s “Boundary Decision” gives us cause to pause in the Ponsford Stand before identifying a scorer’s wagon wheel on the MCG arena. It’s a “3D sculptural relief in powder-coated aluminium, vinyl and collected books.”
Also in the Ponsford Stand is Deborah Halpern’s “Howzat!”, a towering mobile depicting a crouching wicketkeeper at top, a bowler in delivery stride in the middle and a fieldsman in classic appeal pose at bottom.
Daniel Moynihan’s “Spirit of Football”, 16 etchings of footballers from each AFL club, is situated outside the Frank Grey Smith Bar on Level 3 of the Reserve. The artist drew from the physical characteristics of up to three players from each team to present his composite figures. See if you can recognise anyone!
Another welcome and very effective addition to the Members Reserve atrium is a set of bench seats from the old Pavilion, fixed to the wall as the escalator takes you to Level 2.
Directly opposite are the scoreboard panels and figures of the best Test batting and bowling performances on the MCG by Australian and international cricketers.
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