Outdoor Wanders

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‘I am of the lyrebird totem!’ Imitating the dance of the lyrebird, William Ricketts slowly swayed side to side with his arms outspread and shook his hands like the fanned-out tail feathers from which the bird gets its name.

The video presentation at William Ricketts Sanctuary played on as the eccentric Ricketts talked about how we, and all living things are one life. He believed he was one with the land and particularly identified with the lyrebird, taking it on as his totem.

William Ricketts Sanctuary is located in the Dandenong Ranges, about an hour east of Melbourne. Set in the natural surrounds of the ferny landscape, the outdoor gallery consists of over 90 sculptures created by William Ricketts featuring Aboriginal people, native animals, and occasionally Ricketts himself.

I arrived at 10 am, just as a staff member was unlocking the gate. With only one other couple there, I practically had the place to myself. As I strolled down the paved path past the visitor centre, I could immediately see William Ricketts’s philosophy reflected in the sanctuary.

Massive mountain ash trees stretched high above paths that meandered around lush ferns and moss-covered rocks. Cockatoos squawked from overhead and rosellas flitted amongst the tall ferns, their red and blue feathers contrasting with the green fronds. Sculptures mingled with the flora and fauna, rising out of rocks and tree trunks as if they were one entity.

A short walk brought me to the log cabin where William Ricketts lived until 1962. Inside, there was an entry area with information about the cottage and William Ricketts as well as two rooms, each containing a screen and row of wooden benches. I had a look around then sat down to watch the 20-minute documentary about William Ricketts.

On the screen, Ricketts passionately expresses his ‘love of country’ and the connection of all things on earth, declaring that everything is wildlife; the people, animals, rocks, trees, insects, even the clay he used to create his sculptures. He spoke about how Aboriginal people were in tune with life, how he came to be one with the land, and therefore one with the Aboriginal people in their attitude toward life.

After the video ended, I wandered the grounds, taking in the fresh air and admiring the integration of art with nature. The cockatoos had quieted and I listened to the chirping and cooing of other birds as I walked along.

William Ricketts spent a great deal of time in central Australia living with the Pitjantjatjara and Arrente Indigenous people and also lived in India for two years. The time he spent with these cultures inspired him and is reflected in his work.

Most of the sculptures portray Aboriginal people and native animals, illustrating a connection to the earth and conveying a sense of peace and harmony. A few are of Ricketts himself, signifying his bond and commitment to Aboriginal people and nature. Others represent his feelings on the destruction of the environment by the white man. Eastern influences from his experiences in India can be seen in the sculptures around “The Grotto”.

Smaller sculptures, almost hidden, peek out through ferns or between rocks. Many pieces throughout the sanctuary contain water features, representing the flowing essence of life. Wooden and stone benches placed around the gallery provide a place to reflect on the ideology William Ricketts was trying to impart or just enjoy the natural beauty and peacefulness of the sanctuary.

I made my way up to a brick building that housed a kiln and gallery. The government built this new residence for William Ricketts in 1962, while he was living in India. He chose to live solely out of the kitchen, using it as his studio and bedroom. The rest became a gallery. William Ricketts lived there until he died in 1993, at the age of 94. His ashes were scattered around the Tree of Life, a mountain ash tree that was a sapling when he first arrived and now towers over the sanctuary.

The natural setting of the gallery embodies the essence of the message William Ricketts was trying to convey. Sculptures merge with nature as they appear to grow out of rocks and tree trunks amongst plants, birds, and insects. By inspiring people to attain a connection with nature, he hoped they would resolve to protect the environment, rather than destroy it.

“I’m trying to help the people by sharing it with them. . . . This is no longer the William Ricketts Sanctuary. It is the Forest of Love!” – William Ricketts