The Silky Project

16/07/2026

OK
Gympie Folk
This weekend
At ‘The SANDS’
On the Mary River
( Turnoff south of ALDI )
The Silky Project will have an exhibition, along with heaps of others artists.
As part of the Regional Gallery Studio Trails
Saturday and Sunday
10-4
Come say G’day
Cheers
Keith

14/07/2026

14/07/2026

G’day folks



Photo; Silky Oak Platypus carving by Keith Gall for Sunflower Day Auction



From a Silky Oak Tree Stump to 21 Australian Native Animals

The Silky Project – Community Support Continues to Grow

The Silky Project has enjoyed another busy and rewarding month, with strong community support helping us move closer to our vision of creating a life-size bronze replica of the original Silky sculpture.

One of the highlights was participating in the Gympie Regional Gallery’s Studio Trails. More than 150 visitors came through the Tin Can Bay Men’s Shed workshop to meet artist Keith Gall, view the original chainsaw-carved sculpture and learn about the fascinating process of bronze casting.

Visitors were able to see displays explaining how the original timber sculpture will eventually become a bronze monument. The process begins by making moulds from the original carving before creating detailed wax replicas. These wax models are coated with layers of ceramic shell before the wax is melted away, leaving a cavity into which molten bronze is poured. After cooling, each bronze section is cleaned, welded together like a giant jigsaw puzzle and carefully finished with a traditional patina. It is a remarkable blend of art, engineering and craftsmanship.

The project also attended the Mary River Festival as a community stallholder. It was a wonderful day filled with friendly conversations, great live music and the opportunity to meet many of the environmental organisations working to protect the Mary River and its unique wildlife. We appreciated everyone’s interest in The Silky Project and the many encouraging comments received throughout the day.

Supporting the wider community remains an important part of our philosophy. Keith recently donated a hand-carved Silky Oak platypus sculpture to the Sunflower Day fundraising auction at Mooloo, southwest of Gympie. The Silky Project also hosted an information stall and chainsaw carving demonstration during the event. We were delighted to support two outstanding local organisations, Little Haven Palliative Care and Cooloola Chemotherapy, with proceeds from the auction helping these valuable community services.

The Silky Project is also proud to support the arts by sponsoring the 3D Sculpture Section of the Mary Valley Art Exhibition. Encouraging sculptural arts and supporting emerging and established artists is an important part of our vision for promoting creativity throughout the region.

Looking ahead, The Silky Project team will be exhibiting at the Off Grid Expo at the Gympie Showgrounds on 1 August. We look forward to meeting new supporters, sharing the story behind the sculpture and demonstrating the exciting next stage of the project.

Behind the scenes, preparations are underway to cast a series of small bronze Australian native animals. These practice castings will allow the team to refine techniques, test equipment and build experience before work begins on the full-size bronze version of Silky.

As the project continues to grow, we are also seeking volunteers with experience in social media, photography, video production and digital marketing. Helping us tell our story online is just as important as the work taking place in the workshop, and every contribution helps us reach a wider audience.

If you would like to become part of this unique community project, we would love to hear from you. New members, volunteers, sponsors and supporters are always welcome.

Meet Keith Gall and members of The Silky Project team at the Tin Can Bay Men’s Shed and discover how a single Silky Oak tree stump is being transformed into a lasting bronze tribute to Australia’s unique wildlife.

For further information or to become involved:

Keith Gall
Chairman – The Silky Project Inc.
Phone: 0447 986 241
Email: [email protected]

Website: thesilkyproject.info

Facebook: The Silky Project

The Silky Project is a community-based organization, to support Keith Gall who created Silky, help fund a project to cast The Silky into bronze to head for the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane with the help from the community and businesses Keith is well under way

14/07/2026

Photo; Silky Oak Platypus carving by Keith Gall for Sunflower Day Auction

From a Silky Oak Tree Stump to 21 Australian Native Animals

The Silky Project – Community Support Continues to Grow

The Silky Project has enjoyed another busy and rewarding month, with strong community support helping us move closer to our vision of creating a life-size bronze replica of the original Silky sculpture.

One of the highlights was participating in the Gympie Regional Gallery’s Studio Trails. More than 150 visitors came through the Tin Can Bay Men’s Shed workshop to meet artist Keith Gall, view the original chainsaw-carved sculpture and learn about the fascinating process of bronze casting.

Visitors were able to see displays explaining how the original timber sculpture will eventually become a bronze monument. The process begins by making moulds from the original carving before creating detailed wax replicas. These wax models are coated with layers of ceramic shell before the wax is melted away, leaving a cavity into which molten bronze is poured. After cooling, each bronze section is cleaned, welded together like a giant jigsaw puzzle and carefully finished with a traditional patina. It is a remarkable blend of art, engineering and craftsmanship.

The project also attended the Mary River Festival as a community stallholder. It was a wonderful day filled with friendly conversations, great live music and the opportunity to meet many of the environmental organisations working to protect the Mary River and its unique wildlife. We appreciated everyone’s interest in The Silky Project and the many encouraging comments received throughout the day.

Supporting the wider community remains an important part of our philosophy. Keith recently donated a hand-carved Silky Oak platypus sculpture to the Sunflower Day fundraising auction at Mooloo, southwest of Gympie. The Silky Project also hosted an information stall and chainsaw carving demonstration during the event. We were delighted to support two outstanding local organisations, Little Haven Palliative Care and Cooloola Chemotherapy, with proceeds from the auction helping these valuable community services.

The Silky Project is also proud to support the arts by sponsoring the 3D Sculpture Section of the Mary Valley Art Exhibition. Encouraging sculptural arts and supporting emerging and established artists is an important part of our vision for promoting creativity throughout the region.

Looking ahead, The Silky Project team will be exhibiting at the Off Grid Expo at the Gympie Showgrounds on 1 August. We look forward to meeting new supporters, sharing the story behind the sculpture and demonstrating the exciting next stage of the project.

Behind the scenes, preparations are underway to cast a series of small bronze Australian native animals. These practice castings will allow the team to refine techniques, test equipment and build experience before work begins on the full-size bronze version of Silky.

As the project continues to grow, we are also seeking volunteers with experience in social media, photography, video production and digital marketing. Helping us tell our story online is just as important as the work taking place in the workshop, and every contribution helps us reach a wider audience.

If you would like to become part of this unique community project, we would love to hear from you. New members, volunteers, sponsors and supporters are always welcome.

Meet Keith Gall and members of The Silky Project team at the Tin Can Bay Men’s Shed and discover how a single Silky Oak tree stump is being transformed into a lasting bronze tribute to Australia’s unique wildlife.

For further information or to become involved:

Keith Gall
Chairman – The Silky Project Inc.
Phone: 0447 986 241
Email: [email protected]

Website: thesilkyproject.info

Facebook: The Silky Project

09/07/2026

Busy days ahead
This Saturday we will be at the Mary River festival from 10 till four with displays of the Silky 3-D and merchandise catching up with lots of friends. Hope to see you there.

I’ll be donating a platypus for the Mooloo farm Gala dinner on the 18th and the very next weekend the 25th. I will be doing a Chainsaw carving demonstration for their main fundraiser day also at Mooloo farm south west of Gympie looks enough.

There’s an event on the Mary River in Gympie at what is called the Sands the 18th and 19th of this month exhibition of art. The weekend after that is Mary Valley art exhibition competition the 23rd and 24th where the Silkyproject has sponsored the 3D art prize looking forward to that event immensely so busy busy busy.

Hope you can make it to some all of those events and make beautiful art folks, because you can.

09/07/2026

Here’s a few pics from last weekends Studio Trail event hosted by the Gympie Regional Gallery
It was held at our studio space in the TCBay Menshed
Display pieces included :
The original silky oak wood chainsaw carving.
3D printed copies of the statue.
Small wax animals and the silicon and plaster moulds.
A visual display of the Bronze casting process.
Merchandise, Archive photos,
2Q32 registration plate.

We spoke with 150 art lovers and curious enthusiasts, sharing the goals and plans for the future of the Silky Project.

Next steps are to ramp up our social media presence in the coming months. Please come along for the ride and share with us your thoughts and ideas.

Cheers for now
K

15/06/2026

Here’s our latest article for the Cooloola Coast Bulletin magazine…..

FROM A SILKY OAK TREE STUMP TO 21 AUSTRALIAN NATIVE ANIMALS

The Silky Project Continues to Grow

The Silky Project Inc. is inviting the community to follow the next chapter in an extraordinary Queensland sculpture journey.

Created by sculptor Keith Gall, the original Silky sculpture was carved from a single Silky Oak tree stump sourced from the Mary Valley. Over many years, the stump was transformed into a three-metre-tall artwork featuring 21 Australian native animals emerging from a single piece of timber. The sculpture has become a symbol of creativity, conservation, community spirit and the unique wildlife of Australia.

Today, The Silky Project is working towards an ambitious goal — creating a life-size bronze replica of the original sculpture using the traditional lost-wax bronze casting process. The finished bronze artwork, weighing approximately 2.5 tonnes, is planned to tour Queensland before a visit to the ‘32 Brisbane Olympics and finally becoming a permanent public artwork in the Mary Valley.

The project is being developed through a partnership with the Tin Can Bay Men’s Shed, where visitors can learn about the casting process, view displays, and meet project volunteers. The project also aims to promote environmental awareness, wildlife appreciation, cultural storytelling and community participation through workshops, exhibitions and public events.

Studio Trails Exhibition

The Silky Project is pleased to be participating in the Gympie Regional Council Studio Trails Artists Exhibition at the Tin Can Bay Men’s Shed, Amity Place.

Dates: 4 & 5 July
Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm daily

Visitors will have the opportunity to view displays relating to the original sculpture, learn about the bronze casting process, see 3D scanned and printed models of the artwork, and discuss the future vision of the project with volunteers and the artist.

Sculpture by the River

The Silky Project will also be featured at The Sands, beside the Mary River in Gympie, during a special outdoor sculpture event on:

18 & 19 July

This event celebrates sculpture throughout the region and highlights the important role public art can play in connecting communities with their environment, history and culture. The Silky Project display will showcase the story behind the sculpture and its vision of using art to promote appreciation of Australia’s native wildlife and natural habitats.

Community Involvement Welcome

As the project moves forward, community support remains essential. Volunteers, sponsors, supporters and organisations interested in conservation, tourism, education, arts and cultural development are encouraged to get involved.

The Silky Project demonstrates how a single tree stump can become a lasting symbol of imagination, craftsmanship and community collaboration.

For more information, visit the project display at upcoming events or follow The Silky Project on social media.

Keith Gall
Chairman – The Silky Project Inc.
Phone: 0447 986 241
Email: [email protected]

Website: thesilkyproject.info
Facebook: The Silky Project

The Silky Project is a community-based organization, to support Keith Gall who created Silky, help fund a project to cast The Silky into bronze to head for the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane with the help from the community and businesses Keith is well under way

23/05/2026

G’day folks,
Here’s our latest Silky Project story published in the Cooloola Bay Bulletin
May 2026

“From a Silky Oak tree stump to 21 Bronze Australian native animals”

THE SILKY PROJECT Inc.

What began many years ago as a carving from a single Silky Oak tree stump has now grown into a major community arts and environmental project with the dream of eventually being showcased during the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

The original “Silky” sculpture was carved by local sculptor Keith Gall and features 21 life-size Australian native animal, bird and reptile carvings including kangaroo, koala, emu, crocodile, wombat, pelican, echidna and many more. The sculpture tells a story about Australia’s wildlife, the environment and our connection to nature.

The long-term goal of The Silky Project Inc. is to create a full-size bronze version of the original sculpture using the traditional lost-wax bronze casting process. Once completed, the sculpture is planned to tour Queensland from around 2030 as part of a wildlife awareness and cultural storytelling campaign before hopefully being displayed during the Brisbane 2032 Olympics. Its final permanent home is planned for the Mary Valley region near where the original Silky Oak tree once grew.

The project is strongly community-based and is proudly working alongside the Tin Can Bay Men’s Shed, where much of the mould-making and bronze preparation stages are planned to take place. The project hopes to involve volunteers, local schools, artists, retirees, tradespeople, wildlife groups and the wider community over the coming years.

Currently, the project is in the important planning and development stages. This includes organising funding applications, sponsorship proposals, business planning, environmental partnerships, photography and video documentation, and preparation for the early mould-making stages of the bronze casting process.

Keith is now calling on the community for support.

“We’re looking for people who may be able to help in any way — whether that’s sponsorship, fundraising ideas, media assistance, photography, video editing, grant writing, administration, contacts, volunteering or simply helping spread the word,” Keith said.

The Silky Project is also seeking connections with environmental organisations, tourism groups, schools, cultural organisations and businesses interested in becoming part of a unique Queensland legacy project.

Keith can usually be found working at the Tin Can Bay Men’s Shed each weekday between 9am and 12pm and he is there on the 3rd Saturday of each month for Tin Can Bay market day everyone is welcome to stop by, ask questions, and learn more about this unique community project.

For more information or to get involved please contact;

Keith Gall

Phone: 0447 986 241

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: The Silky Project

Website: thesilkyproject.info

The Silky Project is a community-based organization, to support Keith Gall who created Silky, help fund a project to cast The Silky into bronze to head for the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane with the help from the community and businesses Keith is well under way