“Michael Victor MESZAROS, Alphington, Vic. For service to the visual arts as a sculptor.”
As most of you would appreciate, this is in response to Michael’s unusual sense of responsibility for his art. He has contributed significantly to the ASV over many years, and also to the art of sculpture in general. The ASV in recognition of his service made him an honorary life member of the ASV in 2004. He has been ASV President 11 times, ASV Vice-President probably another 8 or 10 times, and held various other ASV posts from time to time.
Over a career spanning around forty years Michael has contributed significantly to sculpture in both public and private collections.
He was instrumental in drawing up “Guidelines for Successful Commissioning of Public Art” in 1998 following approaches from the ASV to the State Government. At the time, sculptors were concerned about bad practices that had developed in competitive tendering, resulting in financially disadvantaging artists due to delays and lack of responses to submissions by artists. The Guidelines were also used as a reference in the drawing up of the National Association for the Visual Arts’ Code of Practice. The Guidelines are available free of charge for the public on the ASV website: www.sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/commissions_guidelines.pdf
His curriculum vita includes being Member Visual Arts Board, Australia Council; Member of Bicentennial Advisory Board, Coins & Medals; Member of Committee to re-organise tendering Processes for Public Art of Arts Victoria; Australian Delegate International Medallists Federation (F.I.D.E.M.)
In August 2011 Michael received the National Art Award for Excellence in Medallic Sculpture from the American Numismatic Association, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. The award is made once a year to a medallic artist anywhere in the world and reflects life time contributions to medallic sculpture.
The 2011 ASV Executive Committee, excluding Michael himself who was in ignorance of the nomination, was delighted to support nomination of Michael Meszaros for Order of Australia awards.
Henceforth formal correspondence to Michael should be addressed to Michael Meszaros OAM !
Please email Geoff Williams on geoff@glwanalysis.com.au by 30 June 2012 if you would like to participate in a dinner at a restaurant with Michael and his wife Elspeth, to celebrate the awarding of this Honour. The date is 22nd of July and the venue for this event will be advised.
Geoff Williams
A Response from Michael
At the last meeting, I was quite overwhelmed by the attention and celebration regarding my OAM award. Uncharacteristically, I was somewhat lost for words at the time.
On thinking about it, I want to say that I think it is almost impossible for someone to earn such an award without the vehicle of an organisation and the support of other people in it.
The Association has been the principle vehicle for me, and any association can only function and give that support with the involvement of other people. Over the 45 years of my membership, there have been many other people who have made major contributions to the running of the Assoc. I want to thank all those people for helping to create the environment which enabled me to do the work to get this award.
My other, separate activity has been with the International Art medal Federation (FIDEM), of which I have been Australian delegate for 40 years. This has been another vehicle which has enabled me to do what I have done.
Thanks to all for the enthusiastic response to my award.
Michael Meszaros
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