The Association of Sculptors of Victoria is an inclusive, not-for-profit collective of contemporary artists whose purpose is to inspire,stimulate and advance the appreciation, creation, and exploration of three-dimensional art in society.

President’s Message

Of the many pleasures at the Christmas Party apart from the food, the wine and the company of friends and colleagues of a sculptural disposition, one stands out in particular.

Two of our many new members turned up, young men full of enthusiasm and fresh ideas. They were made particularly welcome by the assembled group and quizzed about their work. I think they may have been taken slightly aback by the enthusiastic welcome they received. Their appearance was all the more gratifying as young members are the lifeblood of our association. Not only do we need new members, but new young members with a contemporary vision and the enthusiasm to fulfil it. Without them our association will languish. I hope to see the work of these and all the rest of our new members in our exhibitions in 2008.

A couple of weeks ago I saw the McClelland Sculpture Survey and Award for 2007. With its main genres of ‘abstraction, figuration and illusion’ it is diverse and yet cohesive. All possible evocations are present. The works range from what has become the conventionally aesthetic to the uncomfortably confrontational. Whilst size is always impressive some of the most intriguing are below eye-level and in some cases less than knee height. Some you have to look into while to others you must lend an ear. There is something here, indeed several things, to arrest the attention of any viewer.

The works are arranged along a windy path through the bush seemingly cut by a dozer minutes before sculptures were tipped off the back of a following truck like hay to a herd of cattle. You are invited to follow the trail and ‘join the dots’ but at the same time have a wary eye to the ground for the legless reptiles that, in the mind of this ophidiophobic, slither and coil into the nooks and crannies of every sculpture waiting to strike.

You always want to see the winner of course. And I did. There it was, black and forbidding almost threatening, smaller than I expected, about the height of a man, and raised on a high plinth commanding the small clearing in which you are now trapped with it. Amor’s Relic, an armless, black figure with a dog-like head is at once vulnerable and threatening.

The big names are there of course; Bartlett with his stately Aurora #2, its partly organic even flimsy nature belying the harshness of its steel construction, Eicholtz with his naked Adonis bearing up under a load of luscious, extravagant, abundance of fruit; sexy if not seedy to his fingertips. From elf-like creatures in the undergrowth, aliens that talk to you in a whisper, political statements and understatements, the purely aesthetic form and an old ugly duckling of a giant truck tyre recycled as a glorious swan there is something here to excite, puzzle and inspire any sculptor. If they can do it, you think, so can I; but maybe on a smaller scale.

And so to our own exhibitions. Three in all starting with the Herring Island Summer Festival. Entries are due soon so get to it.

That’s followed by MIFGS in April with its larger prize pool, greater publicity and feature sculptor attractions. Peter Blizzard will be the judge.

And finally our annual show will be at Montsalvat in September.

These are great exhibitions in which all our members can exhibit their work whether large or small, indoor or out, amateur or professional. All but the downright obscene are welcome; I expect to see you there.

John Wooller

The Christmas Party!!!


Was fun! Thank you to Gillian and Peter for hosting us. We have the photos, the comradeship - have a great break everyone and we'll see you at Herring Island!

ASV Dates to Remember

Entry forms for Herring Island and MIF&GS were posted with the October newsletter but if you don't have them please contact the relevant exhibition coordinator.

  • 4th January 2008 - entries due for Herring Island Exhibition. Send your entry to 34 Moorhouse Street Camberwell 3124. Entry forms and conditions of entry can be downloaded from www.sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/hi_2008_entry.pdf and www.sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/hi_2008_guidelines.pdf Jenny Rickards 03 9882 6900

  • Saturday 26th January to Monday 28th January - Australia Day celebrations on Herring Island. Come and enjoy the show or be part of the demonstration event. If you can help give Jenny Rickards a call on 0418 97 18 97

  • Friday 1st February – in the morning we set up the Herring Island exhibition and in the evening we have a preview cruise running from Southbank to Herring Island on Florence on the Yarra

  • Herring Island Exhibition runs each weekend from 2nd February to 17th February.

  • Wednesday 13th February is our monthly meeting at 7:30pm in the Boroondara Community Arts Room, rear Hawthorn Town Hall. Bronwyn Culshaw will talk about her recent trip to Europe and European sculpture.

  • Friday 15th February closing date for MIF&GS entries. Send your entry to 39 Turnley Street, Balwyn North 3104. Entry forms and conditions of entry can be downloaded from www.sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/mifgs_2008_entry.pdf and www.sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/mifgs_2008_guidelines.pdf Bronwyn Culshaw (03) 9857 9153

Members' News

We've received newsletters and notes from quite a few sculptors groups: Inform from the Queensland Sculptors, the eNews from the Contemporary Sculptors Association and the eNews from Ceramics Victoria. Also there is a weekly bulletin from the Queensland Artworkers – they run the reasonably price artists' public liability insurance – definitely worth looking up.

The interesting one for this month is the news from Geelong:

GEELONG SCULPTORS INC

Geelong Sculptors Inc held their 6th annual Members Exhibition this year at Ryrie Street Gallery, Geelong. The theme was communication, the exhibition provocatively entitled Its In The Mail.

As usual the theme was taken as literally or as laterally as the sculptors imaginations allowed with an interesting and diverse array of sculpture enjoyed by the opening night crowd and interested viewers throughout the 2 weeks in October.

The exhibition was opened by local identity Ian Westerland who talked on the tactile experience of sculpture from his perspective as a man who is blind and has a great appreciation and love of the arts..

Encouraged by Geelong Sculptors Vice President, Steve Singline, our partnership with Vision Australia has developed quickly to include a 2 day tactile sculpture exhibition entitled Made To Be Held, shown at Vision Australia Belmont, during the Alcoa All Abilities Festival.

Supervised tactile exhibitions such as this broaden the sculptural experience to people of all abilities in the community It was a warm and moving experience for the volunteering sculptors to guide some of the participants through their tactile engagement with the sculptural medium.

Further projects are now in the pipeline to develop our sculptural links with the community.

Geo D Francis vas

Founding President

Geelong Sculptors Inc.

MIF&GS 2008

$8,000 PRIZE POOL FOR MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FLOWER & GARDEN SHOW

The 2008 MIFGS JUDGE will be Peter Blizzard

First Prize - $4,000 and other cash prizes.

Without Pier Emerging Sculptor Prize of $1,000 to sculptors who have been sculpting for five years or less. This prize very generously given by Terry Earle and it will become an ongoing prize.

Entries must include how many years a person has been sculpting to be eligible for this prize.

Manyung Gallery will provide a prize of $250 cash plus an exhibition at Manyung Gallery.

There will be a People's Choice Award of $500. Some Highly Commended prizes also.

We thank our sponsors to date which include:

  • Without Pier
  • Manyung Gallery
  • Outdoor Creations
  • International Marketing Group
  • Morningstar Estate
  • Dalchem
  • Bulleen Art & Garden

Herring Island Summer Arts Festival

The actual festival starts on 12th January 2008 with an exhibition by members of the Wildlife Art Society of Australasia. All five groups will be represented on Australia Day weekend running demonstrations and floor talks Рif you can contribute contact Jenny Rickards Рit will be a lot of fun. Over the winter restoration work has taken place - the start of talking Parks Victoria into looking after the permanent collection properly - so Ellen Jos̩'s Tanderrum was the first to receive a little attention - we are hoping that Ellen will be able to attend the Australia Day celebrations. A visit to Herring Island Рwhether you take the Parks Victoria punt $2 or cruise in style on Florence on the Yarra $8 each way, it's an adventure - enjoy! The website for the festival is at: http://home.vicnet.net.au/~hisaf/

Opportunities for Sculptors

Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2008 - Registrations of interest

The Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2008 will recognize and reward excellence and talent in urban sculpture. For information and an entry form to be sent to you, please visit www.melbourneprizetrust.org and register your interest, or call (03) 9650 8800.

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Industry Training Coordinator

An opportunity to work in a an environment where your expertise and passion can make a difference.

ISS Institute is seeking ‘Expressions of Interest” for 2008.

Full time or part time will be considered.

Closing date for submitting your Expression of Interest and cv is 28th January 2008.

For more details relating to the position, please contact ISS Institute

T 9882 0055 E issi.ceo@pacific.net.au W www.institute.org.au

The ISS office will be closed from 24 December 2007 to 28 January 2008

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Artists looking for international opportunities might like to take a look at:

http://www.callforart.com/

NAVA news

NAVA's latest news can always be found at http://www.visualarts.net.au/newsdesk/breakingnews Current items are listed as:

http://www.visualarts.net.au/newsdesk/2007/12/artspackagetoignitewaartsandculture arts package for WA Art and Culture

http://www.visualarts.net.au/newsdesk/2007/12/urgentcallforvolunteers urgent call for volunteers

http://www.visualarts.net.au/newsdesk/2007/12/stopcensoringartists stop censoring artists

http://www.visualarts.net.au/newsdesk/2007/12/canadasamebutdifferent Canada same but different

Welcome to New Members

This month we welcome: Tianee Hurst, Laurie Collins, Zack Nestorovic, and Chris Vassallo