Float Your Boat: Seagull with Chip

Float Your Boat is an annual winter event at Lake Macquarie that features a floating parade of illuminated vessels, creatively decorated by local artists and boaters. In 2025, I was awarded an artist commission by Lake Macquarie City Council to create a light-based artwork for this spectacular on-water festival.

For my installation, I chose a playful and nostalgic theme: a seagull stealing a hot chip. This cheeky scenario is one that resonates deeply with me—it’s a familiar, humorous interruption to many family lunches by the lake, and I knew it would strike a chord with locals.

Concept & Process

After meeting with the Creative Arts and Events team at Lake Macquarie Council, I began developing my concept. With the help of my kids, I embarked on a “field trip” to gather reference images—by feeding chips to seagulls near the water and capturing their movements on camera. Since the final piece would be viewed from over 100 metres away, recognisable shapes and strong silhouettes were essential.

I translated my sketch into a scalable vector design using Adobe Illustrator, mapping out the pathways for LED rope lights to maximise their impact and suit the proportions of my materials. The seagull structure measured approximately 3 x 3 metres. I printed the design full-scale, assembled it as a paper template, and used it to cut the final form from repurposed corflute. This provided a lightweight yet sturdy base to secure the rope lighting and block out negative space for stronger colour definition.

Installation

The final work was assembled on-site at Empire Marina, Marmong Point, with beautiful weather, lakeside views, and the joyful company of my 8-year-old son. The corflute base was secured to layers of geomesh, and the LED rope light was carefully zip-tied in place. Edges were reinforced to prevent wear and protect the surface of the houseboat to which the artwork was mounted.

With the help of on-site electricians, the illuminated seagull was installed on the side of a houseboat and launched as part of the flotilla parade. Once the lights switched on for opening night, the seagull took flight—glowing brightly as it cruised across Lake Macquarie for two magical nights.