ASV ACTIVITIES AND EXHIBITIONS

ELLIOT ASV GALLERY

There was Gallery “refreshment” on 20th February to replace the sculptures sold between December and January, and the Gallery now shines with the new works.
John Elliot has proven to be an excellent sales person and businessman, persuading prospective buyers to make that sometimes difficult final decision to purchase a work.
Gallery opening times:
Tuesday to Saturday 9:00-5:00
Sunday and Monday by appointment only (041 234 9825).
ASV invites all member sculptors to submit outdoor works for inclusion to the Elliot ASV Gallery.
Applications close: Friday 15th April 2011
Please send printed photos, entry forms with details, and appropriate payment to:
The Gallery Organiser, 8 Grierson Dve, Kilsyth 3137.
For any enquiries: monmauer@gmail.com
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MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FLOWER AND GARDEN SHOW 2011

The ASV sculpture exhibition at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show Carlton Gardens – Royal Exhibition Building, will be open Wednesday, 30 March to Sunday, 3
April 2011.
www.melbflowershow.com.au

Invitations to view the sculpture and attend the presentation on Wednesday March 30 can be downloaded from www.sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/mifgs_2011_presentation.pdf
please remember to print one invitation per person attending and RSVP to Mark Cowie.
Late entries may be accepted.
For more information and entry form email: markcowie@aussiebroadband.com.au

Download entry forms from
http://www.sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/mifgs_2011_entry.pdf and
http://www.sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/mifgs_2011_information.pdf
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Castlemaine State Festival
ASV Sculpture Exhibition

ASV members Catherine and Neil Tait have generously provided their property and garden at their rural bush setting in Muckleford (approximately ten minutes from the centre of Castlemaine) for the purposes of hosting an ASV sculpture exhibition. The exhibition will be held during the highly-successful and well-attended Castlemaine State Festival from Friday, 1 April to Sunday, 10 April 2011. Over 50,000 people attended the last State Festival, so there is the opportunity to display your work to a significant number of visitors.
The Taits would like to provide the ASV with an opportunity to:

• Add a bi-annual event to its exhibiting calendar;
• promote and publicise ASV to a broader audience;
• support ASV sculptors;
• conduct a membership drive that attracts sculptors from the Central Victoria region to become ASV members; and
• generate additional revenue for ASV (commissions and memberships).

Eligibility
The exhibition (and prize) is open to ASV members and other sculptors.
All sculpture (of any dimensions) will eligible, as long as work can be securely/safely exhibited in a public environment.
Entries can be either indoor or outdoor work, but must be able to withstand outdoor exhibition conditions for ten days.
Sculptures do not need to be new work, just good work.
Entries $10 per sculpture (up to three sculptures per member) and $25 for non-ASV members. The entry fees will assist in covering administrative costs.
Entire 10% commission on sales to be paid to ASV. (No other commission applied.)
Organisation of exhibition
Mark Cowie is co-ordinating and curating the exhibition, and assisting with promotion of the exhibition.
Terms and conditions of exhibition
The terms and conditions for the exhibition will be forwarded to entry applicants.
Insurance and liability coverage
The Taits have public liability insurance coverage, but sculptors will be responsible for individual coverage pertaining to loss/theft/damage.
Delivery and collection of works
Works selected for the exhibition can be delivered and installed at any convenient stage during March prior to the official opening. Works can also remain at the site after the exhibition closes for as long as is required by the sculptor.
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ASV COMMITTEE MEETING

The next ASV Committee Meeting shall be Wednesday evening 6 April 2011. Please bring up any issues you wish discussed with a Committee member.
See http://sculperenewsletter.blogspot.com/p/asv-office-bearers.html for committee members contact numbers

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ASV PROGRAM FOR NINE MONTHS TO 31 DEC 2011

PLEASE NOTE: 

NO ASV MEMBERS MEETING 13 APRIL 2011 DUE PROXIMITY OF 

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FLOWER & GARDEN SHOW, AND 

CASTLEMAINE EXHIBITION
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NEW MEMBERS

Welcome to: Andrew McCutcheon, Rumi Takamoto

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MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR

Are you interested in becoming more involved in the Association? There is a great opportunity to work with the Membership Secretary for a couple of months to learn about how the Membership data is kept up to date, how to use Excel to output records, and produce Membership Renewal forms. You will also become more aware of the workings of the ASV website. Please contact Kay Salehi on 9808 4056 or send her an email on kays27@tpg.com.au if you are interested. She will be sending out renewals by early June and desperately needs your assistance as she will be away for 6 weeks after 8th June. Hope to hear from an interested member soon.

OTHER ACTIVITIES AND EXHIBITIONS

2011 TOORAK VILLAGE SCULPTURE EXHIBITION
‘A DECADE OF SCULPTURE’
The Toorak Village Sculpture Exhibition is the most innovative and important annual event to take place in the Toorak Village, where they link the arts with business to form a unique cultural experience. During the entire month of May they exhibit contemporary sculptural works in the shop windows and on the sidewalks of Toorak Rd. Each year it continues to grow with increased enthusiasm from traders, artists & the public that view & buy sculpture.

See website www.tooraksculpture.com.au
All enquiries to Tracey Cammock, mobile: 0438 542 713 or email: tracey@toorakvillage.com.au
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Affordable Art Fair
Art Melbourne, Melbourne’s Affordable Art Fair is brought to you by
Single Market Events Pty Ltd.
35/94 Oxford Street Darlinghurst NSW Australia T +612 9331 7507 F +612 9357 2841
Launched in London in1999 to address a demand for quality contemporary art priced under £3,000, the fair’s key messages there are positioned around education and making art accessible to everyone. Contemporary art is about breaking boundaries and tearing down the concept of the white walls. The Affordable Art Fairs now take place twice annually in London and New York, and annually in Bristol, Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, Singapore, Milan, Melbourne and Sydney.
Featuring art that is both collectable and affordable, Art Melbourne has become the largest annual contemporary art fair in Australia.
GENERAL EVENT INFORMATION
www.affordableartfair.com.au
Art Melbourne 2011, Melbourne’s Affordable Art Fair, Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton, Victoria
19 – 22 May 2011
OPENING TIMES
Thursday 19 May 5pm-9pm Opening Night
Friday 20 May 12 noon-9pm Friday Night Live
Saturday 21 May 10am-5pm
Sunday 22 May 10am-5pm
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MELBOURNE PRIZE FOR SCULPTURE 2011
The Melbourne Prize Trust was established as an Income Tax Exempt Charity and Deductible Gift Recipient in 2004 and commenced the annual Melbourne Prize in 2005. The founder of the Trust, Simon Warrender, announced the annual Melbourne Prize, following the unveiling of his project being the commissioning of The Magic Pudding sculpture, as a centrepiece of a new children's garden precinct in Melbourne's CBD. The prize is established to provide opportunities for artists and recognise and reward excellence and talent, inspire creative development and enrich public life. The Trust has three objectives, which are met by running the annual Melbourne Prize:
> to recognise and reward excellence and talent;
> to inspire creative development;
> to enrich public life.
The Melbourne Prize Trust is an initiative of the Committee for Melbourne. Visit www.melbourneprizetrust.org to see the 2010 partners and patrons.
It operates in a three-year cycle as follows:
> Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture (2011)
> Melbourne Prize for Literature (2012)
> Melbourne Prize for Music (2013)
> Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2014 – cycle commences again
Entry can be made by completing the entry form, which is released on the website in the first half of each year. The entry form contains all the entry information, the judging panel and dates for each year. Following a judging process in the middle of the year, the finalists are announced and an exhibition is held at Federation Square with a finalist catalogue in November.
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Toyota Community Spirit Gallery: The Butterfly Effect
Toyota Community Spirit Gallery presents the work of 52 emerging artists from the cities of Hobson’s Bay, Port Phillip & beyond. It opens on Wednesday 30 March and runs to 24 June: at 155 Bertie Street, Port Melbourne.
Ample parking is available.
[Mel Ref 2E B11.109 Tram, Stop 127, Nth Port Station/Light rail Port Melb]
Gallery Hours Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm or by appointment
Enquiries 0419 570 846
This project is mounted in consultation with the Hobson’s Bay City Council and the City of Port Phillip. Toyota Community Spirit is Toyota's corporate citizenship program- for more information, go to www.toyota.com.au/about/toyota-community-spirit/gallery
also:
http://watcharts.com.au/toyota.html
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Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2011 call for artist submissions
Submit an application for the 15th annual Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi which is being held from 27 October - 13 November, 2011.
The Artist Entry and Submission Forms can be downloaded by visiting www.sculpturebythesea.com. Please note that all submissions must be received by Monday 11 April 2011.
The curatorial panel for the exhibition is:

• Jenepher Duncan; Curator Australian Contemporary Art, Art Gallery of Western Australia;
• Geoffrey Edwards, Director, Geelong Gallery and former Curator ‘Sculpture and Glass’, National Gallery of Victoria;

• Dr. Michael Hill, Lecturer, National Art School, Sydney; and

• David Handley, Founding Director, Sculpture by the Sea

Each year they seek to generate a range of artist support and subsidies which are detailed on the attached application form and include:

•  The Balnaves Foundation Sculpture Prize (Acquisitive) of $65,000;
• Three Helen Lempriere Scholarships of $30,000 each for Australian artists including one for an emerging artist;
• Three Clitheroe Foundation Mentorships of $10,000 for emerging artists;
• Ephemeral and Site Specific Subsidies of up to $4,000 for 4 artists;
• An estimated 450,000 visitors;
• High sculpture sales; and
• Over 100 sculptures by Australian and overseas artists.

In submitting your entry to Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2011 please note:

• Important changes to previous application forms are marked with an asterisk (*);
• They are very interested to receive more submissions for site specific and ephemeral works;

•  While they sell a couple of sculptures for over $100,000 each year, they would equally like to encourage artists to consider exhibiting more modest works, especially as most sculptures priced at $15,000 or less sell;
• It can be difficult for the curatorial panel to assess your submission if you do not express your ideas clearly and succinctly, together with all the requested information and clear drawings or photographs of your proposed work;
• There are many opportunities to exhibit small scale works, so don’t feel the need to think big;
• Provide supporting material including your CV; however ensure your information is concise as the panel are not able to read lengthy submissions.

Please send submissions to: Sculpture by the Sea, PO Box 300, Surry Hills, NSW 2010, Australia or email tosabrina@sculpturebythesea.com.
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AUSTRALIAN COPYRIGHT COUNCIL
Jenny Rickards points out that the Council 2011 seminar program is at:
http://www.copyright.org.au/admin/cms-acc1/_images/16366859764d537f573d70b.pdf
and dates and places can be accessed here:
http://www.copyright.org.au/seminars/
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Workshops 2011
Bolin Bolin Gallery at Bulleen Art & Garden
6 Manningham Rd West, Bulleen. 9850 5155
www.gallery.baag.com.au

Limestone Sculpture with Jenny Whiteside
Saturday 30th April or Sunday 1st May
Cost: $90 per day. Includes a 1/4 block of limestone. Tools supplied.


Mosaics with Sandra Bain
Saturday 26th March10am to 4.30pm and Sunday 27th March 3 to 5pm
Cost $110, including glue & grout, but tiles & item to be mosaiced extra cost


Ceramic Sculpture with Meredith Plain.
Sunday 10th April, 10am to 3pm
Cost $70, includes 1/3 pack clay. Extra charge for firing

Bookings Essential
* Go to http://baag.cart.net.au/store/Workshops
* Or phone 9850 5155 with credit card details or call in to Bulleen Art & Garden
Enquiries, meredith@baag.com.au
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Website enquiry from carol rowlands from 69 Smith Street Gallery

Exhibiting in our sculpture garden: We are still Accepting Proposals for 2011.
69 Smith Street Gallery has a great sculpture garden ready for your exhibition.
Its a fantastic open space come and have a look for yourself.
Melways ref Pg 2C D11 (Tram No. 86).
The sculpture garden is available for $300 for a 3 month period.
Or negotiate to hire for shorter periods
Refer:
info@69smithstreet.com.au

Sculpere February 2011

President's Message February 2011

The year started with another success at Jenny Rickard’s Herring Island – see her rousing report herewith.

Members are reminded to plan for their entries in the following exhibitions:Castlemaine (NEW) (1 – 10 April) entries close 4 March; and the Elliot-ASV Gallery complete refreshment (now 3 May) entries close 15 April.

See notices herewith – exhibits may be moved to different venues, having different audiences. ASV exhibitions generally aim to include a range of artistic styles. We believe artists like to grow and experiment in different modes and styles over time, and our exhibitions usually include works ranging from the abstract to the realistic.

On modern sculpture, one art critic has observed in the news that ‘anything goes’. Are there standards anyway? Ideas on criteria for good art appear to vary enormously. Michael Meszaros uses four criteria, which could be applied to art in many forms:

What is the artist trying to do?
How is the artist trying to do it?
Has the artist succeeded in doing what he/she set out to do?
Was it worth doing in the first place?

Michael openly acknowledges that these criteria would not suit everyone. For example, some may emphasise issues such as : Is it safe? Is there an impact through being beautiful or ugly? Is it properly finished? Is it important that there is a discernible purpose or message to viewers? Need it be understood by the mob?

Some artists may be expressing a burning inside. Some may on the other hand prefer obscurity, as opposed to exposing themselves or their experiences, without realising the honest appeal of their nakedness will strike a common chord in others. Some may be simply guided by the grain of the wood or general shape of the stone or their mood at the moment. It is suggested that a purpose that is understood is more likely to be appreciated as transcendental, and the work respected through time.

I welcome your comments by web site blog.

Geoff Williams President

ASV News & Forthcoming Exhibitions

Welcome to Our New Members Rachel Boymal, Eva Ermer, Diane Thompson, Rodney Barnett, Ann-Maree Gentile and Paul Smits


Castlemaine State Festival ASV Sculpture Prize 2011
The Association of Sculptors of Victoria (ASV) has established a sculpture competition and exhibition as a major adjunct to the well-established biennial Castlemaine State Festival, which is attended by more than 50,000 visitors during the ten-day event.
ASV invites sculptors to submit work that is suitable for indoor, courtyard, garden or outdoor settings. The first-place prizewinner will be awarded $1,500 in prize-money.
Applications close Friday, 4 March 2011.
Entry Forms obtained at www.sculptorsvictoria.asn.au or

Coming Events
Due to popular demand another visit has been organised to Fundere Foundry on Saturday 12 March 2011, starting 10.30am. Cost will depend on numbers attending. Please book with Gillian Govan 9579 1221 or 0412 122 884 by close of Tuesday 8 March. Please note there will be no evening meet Wednesday 9 March.

So watch this page in coming issues to find out what else your Society has planned.

ASV Committee 2010 – 2011

President
Geoff Williams bh 9670 0824

Vice President
Michael Meszaros bh 9853 9610

Treasurer
John Ride 9499 2928

Secretary & Public Officer
John Bishop 9885 2660

Committee Members
Marija Patterson 9489 4537
Monica Mauer 9723 9072

ASV Coordinators 2010 – 2011

Monthly Activities
Gillian Govan 9579 1221

Membership
Kay Salehi 9808 4056

Web Site:
Jenny Rickards 9836 2738

Exhibitions:

Annual: Beatrice Magalotti 9499 3592 and Monica Mauer 9489 4537
Elliot ASV Gallery: Monica Mauer 9723 9072
Herring Island: Jenny Rickards 9836 2738
MIFGS: Mark Cowie 5348 6596
Castlemaine: Mark Cowie 5348 6596
Tesselaar: Mark Cowie 5348 6596

Newsletter: Geoff Williams bh 9670 0824

Editors: Katherine & Zoe Harrington
Do you have any news worthy stories? If you do then please let us know about them and contact us at SCATE@netcall.com.au

At the last ASV Members Meeting our guest speaker, RUTH LYON spoke about her work...

Ruth Lyon has worked in the State Education system as a teacher and instructor since 1973, and lecturer at RMIT University since 1995. She has been an exhibiting artist since the late 70’s and has accomplished many public sculpture commissions such as the Cornish Miner, in Bendigo (1995) . Since the mid 80’s her attention was redirected to television and makeup artistry. In 1999 she was offered the role of Production Designer on the feature film ‘Hostage to Fate’ and since has worked with private film companies on features, shorts and teasers as a Production Designer/Art Director.


Life’s Mystery
“Is life’s mystery trapped within our grasp
Dark times allow us to contemplate
the art of just being
Watch the waters dance around our feet
Allow the healing ripples
To find their own way.”

Marija Patterson introduced Ruth Lyon as a person full of energy and zest for life, whom she has known for some time and who has been a great inspiration to her. Ruth began her artistic career as a painter and printmaker; but her artistic repertoire is extensive and includes sculpture, ballet, writing, as well as production design and artistic direction for film. The creative process for Ruth has always been very rewarding but it is difficult to live by art alone. Ruth juggles her many interests with teaching, mainly at RMIT; and she also holds private classes.

Detail from the ‘Walls of Refl ection’ Image courtesy of the artist.
(Seen here bronze sculpture of girl only)

Ruth began the evening by showing us a sculptural work, ‘Walls of Reflection’ that evolved from a poem she wrote, [titled, Life’s Mystery] when her dog was dying. [The poem was ultimately chiselled into granite to became part of the sculptural work created for the Necropolis Springvale.] Ruth’s intention was to create,“something to make the place alive.”
Featured in the work are two bronze sculptures of a boy and a girl playing in a moat (see picture of sculpture of the girl).

Ruth did her art training in Bendigo, so was very pleased when she was asked to make a sculpture for that City.  Although the sculpture was about mining in Bendigo, it also portrays miners wives [in relief, in occupations such as, prostitution and cleaning borne out of necessity after being widowed as a result of mining deaths].

Portrait of Jan Nelson,artist. Image courtesy of the artist

Ruth then showed images of her sculptural portraits (busts as well as torsos) that she made of women who had achieved prominence in their area of endeavour (some of the women featured included: Deborah Lawrie, a Jumbo Jet pilot; Joan Kirner AM, the first female premier of Victoria; Dr Lorna Sisley, a surgeon; Dr Elisabeth Lewis, a neuro surgeon and Raelene Boyle, a Commonwealth Olympic champion). They were beautifully sculpted likenesses in clay (Bendigo raku chosen for its durability and strength) that had been fired then painted.

By Gillian Govan

ASV News & Forthcoming Exhibitions

The Elliot ASV Gallery, located at 356-358 Punt Road in South Yarra has proven a big success; with one third of the exhibits sold last December/January. The complete refreshment of the exhibition originally planned for April has now been moved to the 3rd May, hence giving artists exhibiting at MIFGS and Castlemaine the opportunity to move their unsold work into the Elliot ASV Gallery.
Gallery opening times:
Tuesday to Saturday 9:00-5:00
Sunday and Monday by appointment only (041 234 9825).
ASV invites all member sculptors to submit works for inclusion to the Elliot ASV Gallery.
Applications close: Friday 15th April 2011
Please send printed photos, entry forms with details, and appropriate payment to:
The Gallery organiser, 8 Grierson Dve, Kilsyth 3137.
For any enquiries: monmauer@gmail.com

Call for Sponsors for the 2011 ASV Annual Sculpture Exhibition
Sponsorship for the 2011 ASV Annual has not yet been finalised. This is a great opportunity for you or someone you know to become a sponsor of the annual sculpture exhibition. Sponsors’ logos will be printed on all invitations and promotional material for the event. Your support for this event is gratefully appreciated. The committee looks forward to working in partnership with you.
Confirmation of sponsors is required by 2 April 2011.
Please contact Beatrice Magalotti on 9499 3592 (home) for further information.

Exhibition Opportunities outside ASV & Member’s Notices

Calling out to all visual artists to be part of lost in sculpture exhibition 2011, a biennial outdoor exhibition of sculptures and installations along the Salt Creek trail, Dunkeld
PRIZE POOL:
$3000 Maria & Allan Myers Acquisition Award (for permanent installation along Salt Creek)
$1000 lost in sculpture Non- Acquisitive Award
$500Peoples Choice Award (non-acquisitive)
Dates 21 Oct 6 Nov 2011
A part of Discover Dunkeld a Mosaic of Experiences
Entries close 15 April 2011
Visit www.discoverdunkeld.com to download an entry form or
contact Annette Huf on 0427 229 198 for further information


Art Melbourne 2011
www.affordableartfair.com.au
Sculpt. NEW!
Contemporary art is about breaking boundaries and tearing down the concept of the white walls. Sculpt Melbourne 2011 calls upon those who dare to challenge public perception of affordable art and that of the gallery space. Presenting contemporary outdoor projects by local emerging artists, Sculpt welcomes submissions of large- scale sculpture, outdoor installations and video work. Exhibition of work is FREE. Complete the application before 15th March 2011 to be considered.


Noosa Stone
SCULPTURE BEQUEST
ENTRIES CLOSE: 31 MARCH 2011 VENUE: NOOSA BOTANIC GARDENS
The Noosa Botanic Gardens will be the recipient of a $200,000 bequest. A series of stone sculptures will eventually establish a sculptural wall through the gardens as biennially the bequest awards a new sculptor. The bequest will enable the winning sculptor the opportunity to travel and study for two months at a studio in Carrara, Italy. Following the residency the artist will return to Australia to complete their own stone sculpture.
http://www.noosastonebequest.org.au/


Bolin Bolin Gallery at Bulleen Art & Garden
6 Manningham Rd West, Bulleen. 9850 5155
www.gallery.baag.com.au
11th February to 27 March 2011
An Exhibition to spread the word about sustainable gardening in our community, and to raise funds for SGA (Sustainable Gardening Australia).
Artists taking part include, Jill Anderson, Jeanette Carter, Avis Gardner, Nicola Hoyle, Janice McCarthy, Meredith Plain, Jenny Steiner, Liz Vercoe, Liz Walker, and they are conveying their thoughts on sustainable gardens through sculpture, painting, ceramics and baskets.
For more information, or images, contact Meredith, 94398750 meredith@baag.com.au
Go to the exhibitions section of www.gallery.baag.com.au for more information.


The Noosa Regional Gallery Travelling Scholarship is a national contemporary 3D art prize presented by the Sunshine Coast Council and principal partner Friends Noosa Regional Gallery Inc. The purpose of the scholarship is to enable the winner to undertake study or training interstate or overseas. This may be through a recognised art institution, participation in short-term workshops or study with a nominated artist. Forty finalists will be selected from entries submitted to a pre-selection panel. The finalist exhibition will be held at the Noosa Regional Gallery from 27 July - 11 September 2011.
Judge: Maura Reilly, New York and Sydney based curator.
For an application and more information go to www.travellingscholarship.org.au
A Creative Communities, Sunshine Coast Council initiative. Principal partner Friends Regional Gallery Noosa Inc.

A national contemporary art prize presented by Sunshine Coast Council and principal partner Friends Regional Gallery Caloundra Inc. The winner receives $15,000 plus a $5,000 4-week residency in Maleny, Sunshine Coast Hinterland. The prize is acquisitive and is open to all Australian artists working in any 2D medium.
Forty finalists will be selected from entries submitted to a pre-selection panel. The finalist exhibition will be held at the Caloundra Regional Gallery from 17 August to 3 October 2011.
Judge: Maura Reilly, New York and Sydney based curator.
For an application and more information go to www.scap.org.au
A Creative Communities, Sunshine Coast Council initiative. Principal partner Friends Regional Gallery Caloundra Inc.

Members Notices
I have booked to go on a really exciting trip to Morocco in June . The trip is organised by the artist, Coleen Cassar who has lived in Morocco for years and knows about the culture and people. These tours have been very popular but this year numbers are down and the tour may have to be cancelled. I will be so disappointed if it does not go ahead. So I am putting this website address in the news letter in the hope that someone out there would like to do the trip as much as I do.
www.roamlikequeens.com.au
Gillian Govan

Darren McNicholas from Dalchem, one of our sponsors as well as one of our judges for our last ASV Annual Exhibition, has all your needs for casting and moulding; he is also happy to provide advice and assistance. Delivery can also be arranged.
For more information, visit his web site at www.dalchem.com.au or you can contact Darren on 9553 7040.

Sculpture and the Enemies

Next Issue due out in April 2011

Interviews with
Inge King
&
Zoe Macdonell
&
Angela Valamanesh

Available from the NSW Art Gallery, Art Gallery of SA, Portrait Gallery in Canberra, the McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park, other State and regional galleries, Magnation and selected book stores and newsagents. Will also be available on-line at www.sculptureandtheenemies.com.au.
Enquiries to SCATE@netcall.com.au.

Angela Valamanesh
Animal, Vegetable, Mineral #A, 2007
Unglazed Ceramic 4 parts
31x 97x 6 cm

Featured artist: Rudi Jass

‘Think Outside the Square’ by Rudi Jass. Image courtesy of the artist.

Rudi Jass recently won the Gate Gallery Acquisitive Sculpture Prize, the major prize at Sculpture and the Vineyards 2010. He was also awarded the Dame Elizabeth Murdoch Award at the Contemporary Sculpture Exhibition Annual Awards in 2006. Some of his corporate clients include Emirates Airlines, Lend Lease and AV Jennings. His work is also represented in many private collections in Australia, Japan, Singapore, Uk and the US.



Z+K: You were born in Germany, and emigrated to Australia in 1983? What made you choose this country to live?
RJ: I had lived in Papua New Guinea for 3 years before I followed a girl to Australia in 1983. I loved Melbourne immediately because it reminded me of my hometown, Hamburg, and the weather was much better.

Z+K: You have been working as a full time sculptor since 1990. What inspired you to become a sculptor?
RJ: I was always interested in design and when I arrived here in 1983, I found that there was almost nothing I wanted to buy for my home which had a contemporary feel to it. So I started building my own. Later I met Laszlo Biro who is a trained sculptor and I started what I refer to as a permanent apprenticeship with him. These years with Laszlo, plus my interests in industrial design, and my technical ability as a former PORSCHE technician, formed the base of the sculptures I create today.

‘Silver Leaves’. Image courtesy of the artist

Z+K: You were featured on the ABC television programme, ‘Gardening Australia’ where you talked about your garden sculptures. ‘The Garden’ has a rich history, from the gardens of Versailles, to the English style garden; and the beautiful Japanese gardens. Do you believe Australians embrace the garden as a place of beauty and meditation in the same way as other cultures?
RJ: When I started making my first water feature with stainless steel and stone in 1991, there was nothing else on the market except some overly ornamental concrete features like little cherubs or mermaids. I think around the early 90’s people started to look at their garden as more than just a place for the Hills Hoist, and wanted to utilise the space as an outdoor extension of their homes. A logical conclusion would be to decorate these outdoor “rooms” with some kind of art. In recent years contemporary sculpture has been incorporated into these garden spaces, creating a connection between man and nature.

Z+K: Which materials do you believe tend to be more popular from a commercial point of view?
RJ: It seems to be that concrete and stone products, usually imported from China, are still popping up everywhere; but I am not really interested in what material is popular from a commercial point of view.

Z+K: Does this criteria influence what you create your works from?
RJ: As I said, I am not influenced by the commercial popularity of materials; I prefer to work mainly with stainless steel and corten steel; I also incorporate elements of natural stone and glass. I am passionate about creating sculptures that have an extremely long lifespan and need very little maintenance.

Z+K: On your website it states that, all pieces are handmade, small or limited editions. How important is this element to your work? Do you feel that it is important that artists limit the duplications made of their works?
RJ: All my pieces are handmade; this is the only way to achieve a quality with which I am satisfi ed. I can’t speak for other artists; but I choose to make some of my sculptures in limited editions of 8 to retain exclusivity.

‘Fossil’. Image courtesy of the artist

Z+K: Do you handcraft the works yourself? Do you have a studio?
RJ: I do most of the work myself and I have an assistant who works for me on a part time basis. I also work closely with an engineering firm that makes some components for me because my machinery is not set up for it. I make use of modern technology by using a CAD program to work out some design problems and I get certain items laser cut. I work from a 250 sq/m studio/workshop.

Z+K: In some cases it is cheaper for an artist to employ someone to fashion the works for them. Do you think this is becoming more common? Do you think that it affects the quality of the work?
RJ: As an artist you also have to be a businessman. In some instances it is not viable to do the work by yourself. I have produced sculptures up to 5 m tall. That is about the limit for me as my studio is only 6 m high. Steel sculptures in that size are also very heavy and you need very expensive lifting equipment. If you know somebody with the studio space and the necessary equipment; whom you can trust to work exactly with your design and specifications to realise your sculpture in it’s larger form; I don’t think it is a problem that someone else has manufactured the piece.

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"

ASV Notices and Sponsors

News outside ASV: Sydney Sea Sculpture to get Harbour Home
Winning pieces from Sydney’s annual Sculpture by the Sea competition will now have a more lasting home at the Royal Botanic Gardens.When the exhibition ends each year, the winners will be moved from the Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk, to the gardens on the edge of the harbour.Executive Director of the Botanic Gardens Trust, Dr Tim Entwisle says the sculptures will stay in Sydney for ten years and then some will go to the gardens at Mount Tomah or Mount Annan. “I think the artists will be thrilled because they get their piece of sculpture to have harbour views in a botanical paradise and four million visitors a year coming to see it,” he said.“If I was a sculpture, this is exactly where I would want to sit.”
© 2011 ABC

Overseas TravellersOverseas Travellers Please submit Photographs and a short article on any Sculpture or other worthwhile Art that you see while travelling. (Digital images must be saved as JPEGs of 300 dpi, over 1 MB in size, and be able to be opened in PC format.) 

Sculptor Organisations in Other States:
NSW: www.sculptorssociety.com
Queensland: www.sculptorsqld.org.au

Sponsors of this Society include Dalchem, Ronald Pitcher, trustee of Margaret Gunnersen Thomas Estate, Bulleen Art & Garden, Daniel Meszaros Architects, Without Pier Gallery, Kooyonga Chapel Winery, Mary van den Broek and IMG (International Management Group of America Ltd).
Note: although all editorial material is checked thoroughly for accuracy, neither the editors, nor the Society can accept responsibility for information in this publication that may be ambiguous or incorrect.

Toorak Sculpture Festival