Acting President’s Message

Unfortunately Leon Frankcom has resigned as Secretary due to family sickness in Warnambool. His contributions in formalising Committee procedures were greatly appreciated and we wish him the very best in future. His suggested “Phone-around” exercise will now be delayed. As stated previously, the personnel shortage is acute, and we now need a Secretary, as well as an apprentice Membership Officer to take over that role from 1 July, and a Treasurer from about end August. Paid professional support is likely to be sought. Please contact a Committee member if you have computer skills and are able to help.
The results from Members’ voting, as to a preferred Constitution membership clause change, have been helpfully summarised by John Bishop. 37% of Members voted, with 21 for Option A and 20 for Option B. The Committee is considering the very close results and will put a proposal to members for an Extraordinary General Meeting shortly.
The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show showed a good result, covered by Patrick’s report below. Congratulations to Kaye Clancy, Ingrid Dusselberg, Kevin Free, Annie Glass, Gillian Govan, Bob Grant, Karen Herring, Jim Howson, Martin Keogh, Tim Kervin, Angela MacDougall, Pauline Meade, Judy Newman, Meredith Plain, Catherine Tait and Lise Toft, for sales.
Two weeks ago I tried to visit a permanent sculpture exhibition at Aalsmeer, about half an hour south of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. There is a large display area behind a secure steel fence, with a permanent additional indoor exhibition space, all by a beautiful lake. Interesting and dramatic works were displayed, classical and modern. Unfortunately it was closed, despite the visit being timed to occur in advertised opening hours. I wish we had the opportunity to use such a permanent facility.

Geoff Williams, Acting President

Diary Dates

Meetings are held in the Boroondara Community Arts Room, rear 360 Burwood Road, Hawthorn and start at 7:30pm.
Monthly Meeting 13th May
talk by Graeme Wilkie about his monumental ceramic and sculptural pieces.
Annual Exhibition 2009
Entries Close 5th June
This year the annual exhibition will be held at Manningham Gallery, 699 Doncaster Road, Doncaster from 15th to the 31st July. Entries close on 5th June. Entry forms and conditions of entry are available at
www.sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/aae_2009_entry.pdf and
www.sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/aae_2009_conditions.pdf and will be posted to members shortly.
Monthly Meeting 10th June
This will be a session about photography – yet to be finalised.
Annual Subscription Renewals 30th June

MIFGS 2009

The 2009 MIFGS show was again a great success. We had 49 exhibitors with 88 entries. This was slightly up on last year.
It was pleasing to see many old faces again and quite a few new ones including Nicole Allen, the previous owner of Manyung Gallery”. Nicole and her husband have recently returned from three years in Vietnam.
There were three interstate visitors, one of whom – Karen Herring was extremely happy as she sold both her pieces and won the “People’s Choice”. We had a total of 8 non- members.
Once again it was the variety of work – different materials, different ideas, and different methods that attracted most comment from the public, many of whom are now regular visitors to our section of the Flower and Garden Show. The people’s choice award was much closer this year. There were approximately the same number of votes as last year showing that this aspect of the exhibition is still a crowd favourite.
Kevin Free was on duty as usual running the demonstration area, supported by some members. This is always a crowd pleaser and this year was no exception.
One pleasing aspect was the high number of enquiries we had for information about various exhibitors, many of these coming from garden designers.
Sales at 21 pieces exceeded last year in numbers but was down in value, due to the two high value sales we had last year.
Our Judge, Deborah Halpern performed the difficult task of selecting the winners, but then made everyone feel like a winner in her speech at the award function. We thank Deborah for her time and thoughtfulness.
The function was again held at La Notte in Lygon Street. A good crowd turned up. Geoff Williams the Acting President welcomed people particularly mentioning a few stalwarts and regular contributors - Betty Collier, Valda Cumming, Kevin Free, Michael Meszaros and Lise Toft.
I thank our Sponsors, our Judge, those that helped in organising and running the exhibition -Jenny Rickards, John Bishop, Michael Meszaros, all the sitters, and especially Bronwyn Culshaw.
Patrick Culshaw
Exhibition Co-ordinator
Results of the
2009 MIFGS/ASV Sculpture Competition








1st prize $3,000 Jim Howson “Germination” sponsored by MIF&GS, Mitre 10 & ASV
















2nd prize $1,000 Jan Indrans “October” sponsored by
Dame Elisabeth Murdoch







3rd prize $250 Lise Toft “Flotsam” sponsored by
Bulleen Art and Garden











Emerging Sculptor $1000
Mary van den Broek
“Spring Racing” & body of work
sponsored by Without Pier Gallery














Highly Commended
Pauline Meade “Snow Gums”

















and
Jenny Steiner
“Case Moth Cocoons (II)”


















People’s Choice $500
Karen Herring “A Pair of Pears” Sponsored by ASV

********
The catalogue images for MIF&GS 2009 are now up on the web site. Members can see their work on their profile page, and all works can be seen through the exhibition index.

******
Presentation Evening
Not only are winners grinners - but everyone had a great time. A big thankyou and congratulations to Patrick for the coordination of the event and the exhibition.

Foo.was.here

It can be hard getting good help you know...... particularly when you don’t pay and there’s not much glory. A lot of the ASV appointed jobs are like that. In fact there’s now a world wide shortage of grey paper holders at all exhibitions. You don’t often see that humble role glorified - and who wouldn’t prefer to be honoured for being the one who took the photos... or indeed the ones who made the sculptures.... ASV services in fact are nearly all provided by volunteers. The website images are paid for - $6.60 per sculpture goes towards the processing - the photography is done voluntarily, the executive committee members meet in their own time, the appointed officers chip away at the edifice of work - not quite by candle light but in the flickering glow from computer screens in their own time. There is fun in camaraderie, the occasional restaurant meeting and sharing of sculpture stories - there is also the satisfaction of seeing an exhibition come together, the website reflect each member’s endeavours, a member of the public find the work or the sculptor that they seek. It can be a buzz - it is also a commitment and takes time and attention. If you can help someone in a small way, or can see a way to subdivide a task so that it can be shared or even contemplate taking on a major role - don’t hold back - find the support and the information that you need and help out.
The executive and the appointed committee members are a bit short at the moment - contact the current committee, or even call your friends and put together a team to tackle a project together: -
Currently the executive committee comprises:
Geoff Williams 9670 0824 (W), Patrick Culshaw 9857 9153, Marija Patterson 9489 4537 and Michael Meszaros 9853 9610. If you wish to contact any of these office bearers via email please use the link from their sculptor profile pages on the ASV website http://www.sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/sculptor_listing.php

News, Opportunities, Exhibitions..

WHAT’S ON AT HEIDE?
http://www.heide.com.au/
Sunday 3 May 2009 2.00pm
Kendrah Morgan, Modern times: the untold story of modernism in Australia Project Curator, Heide, presents a talk on the genesis of Sidney Nolan’s Boy and the Moon (1939–40) and discusses its inclusion in Narelle Jubelin: Cannibal Tours (the contemporary adjunct to Modern times).
FREE with admission
Venue: Assemble Sidney Myer Education Centre
**************
There will be an exhibition of Teisutis Zikaras’ work (one of the Centre 5) at McClelland Gallery May 10 to July 19
**************
... and for your next exhibition remember to download the entry forms for the Annual and Awards Exhibition at www.sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/aae_2009_entry.pdf and www.sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/aae_2009_conditions.pdf
**************
You are invited to...

THE CONTEMPORARY ART SOCIETY OF VICTORIA (INC.)
COLLECTORS’ EXHIBITION 2009
A selected exhibition of Australian Contemporary Art

Opening NEXT SUNDAY, 3 May, 5 - 7pm
Steps Gallery, 62 Lygon Street, Carlton
Runs: 4-17 May 2006
Gallery Hours: daily, 10.30am to 5.30pm
Map Ref: Melways Map 2B G10
*************
Exhibition proposals from curators, solo artists and group artists are open for the Town Hall Gallery 2010 exhibition program.
Click on the link below to down load the application form:
http://www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/leisure/culture_arts/town_hall_gallery/gallery_exhibitions/proposals
For more information or if you would like to discuss your idea with the curator, please contact Mardi to arrange an appointment time.
Mardi Nowak, Curator, Town Hall Gallery,
rear, 358 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn 3122 Ph: 03 9278 4775
*************
The Services and Supplies Directory is still alive!
Gillian Govan is checking entries and adding new ones - and sends thankyous to all the people who have worked on it recently - notably Fay Gerber, Helen Clancy and Judy Newman. Please contact Gillian with any additions or alterations to the directory.
Gillian Govan 0412 122 884
************
YERING STATION SCULPTURE EXHIBITION & AWARDS
25 October – 6 December 2009
The Yering Station Sculpture Exhibition & Awards is a collaborative event between the Yarra Valley Arts Council & Yering Station, a premier winery in the Yarra Valley region of Victoria, Australia. The exhibition has grown incrementally since October 2001 & is now an iconic event on the Victorian Arts calendar attracting strong interstate interest.
This year we are able to offer a major prize award of $10,000 with supportive prizes. An artists fund has been procured to pay all finalists a small participation fee towards travel costs etc. Finalists are encouraged to select their own site which may best present their work.
Opening & Award Presentations: 25 October, 3.00pm Yering Station Historic Barn. Bring a picnic & from midday enjoy music & lunch on the lawns amongst the sculptures.
Entry forms and further information from:
Savaad Felich T ~ (03) 9730 0102 M ~ 0400 894 646
http://www.yering.com/
Entries close Monday 22 June 2009
*************
Suzanne Kaldor wrote to us that our gallery’s garden will devote a month to display Outdoor and Garden Sculptures from the 25th of April until the 27th of May. The Address is 11 Hallmark Rd Mordialloc and more information can be found on www.suzannekaldor.com.au
Worth a visit, a coffee and a chat!
************
ISSI Courses and Information
Check www.issinstitute.org.au for courses and fellowships available. They also sponsor a range of workshops and master classes in many skill areas.

***********
Van Phu Le invites you to his Reminiscence Exhibition
opening
on Wed 29/4 from 6-8pm
At Hunt Club Community Centre
775 Ballarat Road,
Deer Park
and running until 22 May.

************

Bulleen Art and Garden have a great range of workshops and exhibitions on at the moment - the workshops are in limestone carving, mosaics and ceramics. There are exhibitions of mosaics and ceramics this month. Check out their website
www.baag.com.au

NAVA News

NAVA sends out a news email quite frequently. They list opportunities for visual artists and issues of interest. The most recent email listed the following news items:

1. FreeÿAboriginal artistsÿand artworkersÿworkshop
2. Changing Climates in Arts Publishing - free forum
3. Art Censorship Guide meeting
4. Australian Design Coalition
5. Artists Resale Royalty
6. Human Rights consultation
7. Social Inclusion
8. Theory in Practice Series (TIPS)

Plenty of food for thought!
http://www.visualarts.net.au/

New ASV Members

This month we welcome new members:
Vladimir Chiroka and Eddie Gaber