Alphie the Alpha Turtle is an Australian public artwork in the form of a Monumental inflatable sculpture. It is shaped like a sea turtle and is covered with an abstract black and white pattern inspired by the forms of the Great Barrier Reef. It was created by Queensland artist BJ Price and has been exhibited on the water at various locations in Australia, including Port Jackson in 2014 and Currumbin Swell Festival in 2016. Alphie led the Australia Day Parade on Sydney Harbour in 2015. Alphie is 15 metres in length, weighs 375 kilograms and sits 5.5 metres above the water line when inflated.
A smaller version known as "Wee Alphie" has also been displayed and photographed in far north Queensland. Wee Alphie first appeared at BJ Price's World's First Art Exhibition on the Great Barrier Reef.
References
- "A giant inflatable turtle at Swell Sculpture Festival, Gold Coast". ABC News. 2016-09-09. Retrieved 2017-04-13.
- "Alphie the turtle makes swell entrance ahead of festival - My BT Gold Coast". My BT Gold Coast. 2016-09-06. Archived from the original on 2017-04-13. Retrieved 2017-04-13.
- Alphie Leads the Australia Day Parade on Sydney Harbour 2015, retrieved 2022-12-14
- "Giant floating turtle "Alphie" explores Sydney harbour". News. Retrieved 2017-04-13.
- Cormack, Lucy (2014-08-14). "Alphie the inflatable sea turtle sails into Sydney Harbour". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2017-04-13.
- "Alphie shell-shocks beachgoers". Retrieved 2017-04-13.
- "Underwater art gallery on the Great Barrier Reef - ABC (none) - Australian Broadcasting Corporation". www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 2022-12-14.