Reuters photographer Will Burgess captured a shot of a very large fried egg on an Australian beach on Tuesday, November 2nd, 2005. My first thought was, "The dinosaurs are back". And then I probed further. Tomorrow, the ninth annual Sculpture by the Sea exhibit opens in Sydney.

The egg on Tamarama Beach was created by Australian artist, Jeremy Parnell.

Parnell made the egg, he calls 'Big Chook', from fiberglass and high gloss epoxy marine paint.

Parnell's art was inspired after seeing people fry themselves on the beach attempting to get a suntan.

Lots To Sea

His egg joins 115 other pieces of art contributed by the international and Australian artists who have contributed to this year's outdoor exhibition.

Those who have the opportunity to go Down Under, where summer is just about to begin, can explore the Tamarama coastal walk, between November 3rd and November 20th.

Each year, the Parnells of the world attract over 400,000 visitors to Australia's largest annual free exhibit.

Much of the artwork on display is available for sale.

Today, Sculpture by the Sea is considered by many to be Sydney's best art exhibition.

In 1998, the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG) through the Artistic Director of "A Sea Change" Andrea Stretton, commissioned five Sculpture by the Sea exhibitions around Australia for the 1998 Olympic Arts Festival.

Last year, many might have wondered what giant had left his or her sunglasses on a beach in Australia.

As it turns out, the pair of shades called "X-Ray Specs" was created by artist Bjorn Godwin using foam, rice paper and Perspex.

This year, artists will compete for $115,000 in prizes and grants.

The SXS Bondi-to-Tamaram three-week coastal exhibit is free-to-the-public.

If you can not get to the east coast before the end of the month, try heading to Perth this spring, and you'll have a second chance.

Sculpture by the Sea will be back at Perth's Cottesloe Beach between March 9th - 19th, 2006.

Having gone to the America's Cup yachting races in 1986 and 1987, I've been looking for an excuse to return to the west coast of Australia. Perhaps this exhibit will be my inspiration to get back to Fremantle.

At Cottesloe Beach in 2006, the exhibition will include works by leading and emerging Western Australian sculptors. Artists to look for are Geoffrey Drake-Brockman, Jennifer Cochrane, Kevin Draper, Judith Forrest, Ron Gomboc, Lorenna Grant and Richie Kuhaupt.

Interstate and international sculptors such as Ron Robertson-Swann OAM (NSW), Keizo Ushio (Japan) and Professor Siu Jianguo (China) will also have art on display.

Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe is offering the $10,000 Allens Arthur Robinson WA Sculptor's Scholarship which will be given to an artist selected by the Curatorial Panel composed of three individuals well known for their professional expertise and involvement in Western Australian art.

Panelists include Belinda Cobby, Anne Meredith Wylie and John Stringer.

Sculpture by the Sea Founding Director David Handley said:

I am thrilled to be bringing the exhibition concept to Australia's West Coast.

Since Sculpture by the Sea began, we have had numerous requests to bring the exhibition to new locations around Australia.

It was not until we saw the spectacular setting of Cottesloe Beach that we knew we had found the perfect place.

For further information on the 2005 and 2005 exhibits, please go to:

Inspire & Be Inspired.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful, "inspired not to fry" living!

~ Jennifer Carolyn King, Rugged Elegance, LLC