Sculptors Lead the 2011 Herring Island Summer Arts Festival

Jenny Rickards "Frankly, My Dear"

The ASV launched the Herring Island Summer Arts Festival on the 15th January. It was quite an effort for all our exhibitors to get their work into the show. The entries were at an inconvenient time before Christmas and the delivery day was too soon afterwards; and it was raining to boot. Never-the-less the show was fabulous - the members rose to the challenge magnificently, delivering a great show and capitalising on the lead up publicity, and the support of the Australia Day council.
We had a formal opening as befits the launch of a festival – and sold three works on opening day. Opening day was hosted by President, Geoff Williams; and the speaker was Nigel Caswell, the former head of Parks Victoria, who was also a part of the inception of Herring Island Environmental Sculpture Park. Representatives of both Yarra and Stonnington Councils were also present. We had over 100 visitors on all but the last day and over 200 on Australia Day. This is pretty good when you consider that few people would come to the island just for a picnic and a look at the permanent collection.

Eight works were sold during the show. On that note could I make a request to sculptors: please don’t drop your prices – we don’t want people to think that they will get a better deal, waiting until after the show.

The show would not have been a success without a lot of teamwork – there are numerous “towers of strength” to thank: at set up Andrew Bryant and Bronwyn and Patrick Culshaw were indispensable – along with the mopping and wiping brigade who held back wet sculpture and people at the door and sent dry work to be set up (by slightly soggy people) – brilliant! All through the show we had sitters and demonstrators, and we shared the courtyard with the other groups on Australia Day – thanks to all those people too. And at the end – the last packing and mopping up was assisted by Gillian Govan and Michael Meszaros. Thank you to all heroes named and unnamed.

It is likely that we will also lead next year’s festival. It is a good spot to maximise publicity even if there is a bit of pressure on the exhibitors. And it reflects the ASV’s leading role in organising the festival. So all exhibitors please keep next summer open for a small work or three to go to the island.
Jenny Rickards, ASV HISAF coordinator
www.vicnet.net.au/~hisaf; http://hisafnews.blogspot.com/

Barry Wemyss "Shizen"

Gordon Robertson "Orb Cubed"

Betty Collier "Solitude"

Betty Knight "Sandy"