Australian Artist's Heartbreak After Bushfires

I always wanted to go back to Marysville and explore some more as a long weekend wasn't long enough in the Yarra Valley. I am deeply saddened by all the loss experienced in the 2009 bush fires, the human cost, wildlife, and property.  These sculptures were fascinating and added something magical to the area.

It is a pleasure to share some of my pictures of Bruno's Garden here. I run a 'media innovation' lab called LAMP in Australia and we spent a couple of weeks in Marysville exactly a year ago running an Australian/NewZealand development lab - all 50 of us had wonderful memories of the place. The town and people were very welcoming and we are all saddened by the loss of life and place and especially the majestic Maryland's Centre where we stayed and of course Bruno's unique and irreplaceable sculptures. Here is a link to a video we made on the first day, a quest game around the area which gives an alternative insight and finally a link to my garden photos set incorporated into the slideshow above.

The Beauty of the Human mind that created all this destroyed by the Human madness of that same mind. We are be on redemption.

While one would never compare the loss of material things, even such great art as Bruno's, to the loss of human life in the fires, it's truly sad that such a great body of sculpture, painting and multi media work was destroyed.

Its still somewhat mindboggling that photos I took as mementos of a holiday now form, along with others, a record of things that are now destroyed. I had looked forward to returning to the garden, and will do so again if there's anything to return to. I hope Bruno wants to rebuild.

If you have the chance, please consider giving your financial support to the Victoria Bushfires Fund of the Australia Red Cross. The fund supports people like Bruno Torfs and other Victorian residents affected by the bushfires, more information on the link.

To contact Bruno directly you can try his website. http://www.brunosart.com/ I do not know if the contact info there is still valid, but it is a place to start.

Hello.  My family and I are devestated by the deaths and destruction of Marysville.  We were lucky enough to have had two holidays there with our children, the second one even more special as we returned with our closest friends and their children.  Our children have been rocked by this tragedy, as have we,  but I am thankful we have photos and beautiful memories of a beautiful community that we can look back on with a sense of fondness i cant compare to any where else.  My regret is however that on the day we visited Bruno's Garden, I forgot to take my camera.  I hope and pray that Bruno and his stunning wife will be ok.  Living in a community such as Marysville, I know people will come together and forge forward.  To all of the people of Marsville, my heart belongs to you, thank you for wonderful memories and my family and I send love and best wishes.

The Gill Family

The artwork of Bruno's beautiful garden came into my computer some months back. I loved it, it was so special, so very different - but then, having been brought up in the bush, I love anything bush! To create such beauty out of natural was very different and exquisitly beautiful.

To learn that it has turned to ashes cannot be described in words, and I can only feel for the artist. The works can never be replaced, but I look forward one day to more 'Bruno' art coming my way via my computer.

Zita, Kiwi fan.

I was in Australia from Britain visiting my daughter in Sydney when these terrible fires broke out. I felt the intense heartache that the nation felt for the loss of families, friends and whole communities not to mention wildlife and beautiful woodland. These spiritual carvings are breathtaking and I am so very saddened to read of their destruction too.

Perhaps something of such beauty and uniqueness will always be around in another dimension given that the founder of the town was considered someone with magical powers?

Thank you so much for at least preserving them in pictures. I will revisit them very often as they have a healing power even at that level - what it must have been to see them for real!

My husband and our 2 children have been to  and stayed in Marysville and Lake Mountain countless times. Apart from being avid skiers, we also went there a lot in summer as it was often a cool respite rom Melbourne. Yet in all those trips, we always said "we'll do Bruno's next time" as there was always so much else to savour up there. Indeed the cottage we always stayed out was less than 100 metres from Brunos. We have now lost our chance to see this beautiful garden, but if Bruno is anything like any of the other wonderful Marysville residents, he will be back and hopefully we will get our chance again some day. The moral of this story...life is short so don't put off till tomorrow what may not be there to enjoy

Our hearts go out to Bruno.. Our kids spent many enjoyable days/afternoons, at Bruno's exploring and enjoying his amazing art.