President's Letter for August - September 2014

 For my presidents letter this month I am going to write the speech that I made at the opening. Partly because the PA system was a disaster and partly because I would like all members including those not present or even exhibiting to know how grateful I am for the help and support I received in setting up this exhibition. I will also talk a little about the awards that were presented on that night… So here we go:


This Association is a not for profit, volunteer run organisation. And the membership ranges from aspiring to professional sculptors from all over Victoria and also interstate. The Association formed in the 1930s and for many years held its exhibitions in public places in the City but in recent years we have exhibited in the suburbs. This year we are fortunate to be back in the City here at 120 Collins Street thanks to Investa Property Group who have made this terrific Venue available to us. Thank you Lisa Markovic for your enthusiasm and support.

This exhibition would not have been possible without the help of a significant number people; to them we offer our thanks for their contribution.

Our Sponsors:


Darren McNicholas from Dalchem, Moulding and Casting supplies.

Mal and Ewen at Coates and Wood Foundry, who would have cast many of the bronze pieces here.

 We also thank an anonymous donor for the generous gift of the Tina Wentcher prize

 Thanks once again to the Gunnersen family for their support and donation for the Margaret Gunnersen William Hoggan Thomas Award.


I would also like to thank Pam and Barry Saunders for supplying the Kooyonga Creek wines for tonight’s event. If you enjoyed the wines feel free to contact me for details of the winery and wine prices.

The Awards were judged by renowned Melbourne Sculptor Geoffrey Bartlett, Mark Cowie, and Darren McNicholas. Thank you for giving your time and experience.

Every event such as this is run by a committee. This one is no exception except I prefer to call it a team; a team of people who have all worked so well together to make this happen.

Thank you Michael Meszarros and Andrew Bryant who once again created order out of chaos and transformed a room full of sculptures into an exhibition. Also for all those who helped at bump in.

Thanks to Bronwyn Culshaw who along with Joey and staff from Elements organised the opening event. They did a fantastic job considering the unexpected number of guest with whom we were happy to share the event.

Thanks to John Ride our treasurer who handles all our financial transactions. I hope we can keep him very busy over the next two weeks.

Thanks to Liddy Wright who took on the huge task of managing a sitters roster so that there will always be sculptors here at the exhibition to represent the Association and talk about sculpture.

Thanks also to Jonathan Mendez –Baute for kindly giving his time and artistic skills for all our advertising, and art work including posters, catalogues and invitations.

Anyone who has ever organised an exhibition for this Sculpture Association will know there is one person who stands out as a right hand woman and offsider, and a shoulder to cry on. She has been all of these things to me as well as my supporter in all things computer. Thank you Jenny Rickards I could not have done this without her.

There are 60 other people to thank tonight. You the sculptors. Your work is tremendous. It is an amazing exhibition. I had no idea when we were looking through photographs of the entered pieces that it would ever look like this. The variety of style, mediums, and techniques is so diverse . We are also fortunate to have members from a wide range of cultural backgrounds and this has added another dimension to this display. It is very exciting and you have made it an exhibition to celebrate. Thank you and congratulations.

Judging the works was quite a challenge. I know all the judges had a very difficult task making a selection from such talent.

Jackie Mackinnon "Garden of Eden Treasures"

 The three works chosen by our judges are all timeless pieces and could have been created at any time in the history of art yet they are original and skilfully made with age old techniques and materials and yet they still bear the marks of the individual sculptors.

Although the prize winners are on the website for all to see I would like to mention the awards here.

Tina Wentcher was a very accomplished sculptor and active member of the Association of Sculptors who bequeathed this award as an encouragement to emerging Sculptors in 1976. This year although still in her name the prize was donated by an anonymous donor and is awarded to sculptors with under 10years exhibiting experience. Tina Wentcher’s work can be seen in the McLelland Gallery

Irris Szoeke "The Pinnacle"

The Tina Wentcher 2nd prize of $500 has been awarded to Irris Szoeke for "Pinnacle". This is a simple piece in form yet has a sophistication in technique and depth of meaning.

The 1st prize is $1000 and a Bronze medallion made by our vice president Michael Meszaros. This prize goes to Sioma Wajchman for his work Genesis. This is an almost iconic piece that has universality about it. It is a beautifully made piece of sculpture with a narrative both in form and materials used.

Sioma Wajchman "Genesis"

The Coates and Wood Prize is for $500 foundry services. And this has been awarded to Jackie McKinnon for her work "Garden of Eden Treasures. This ephemeral work made with wax has a sensitivity and delicacy. The fine detail and fragility make it a unique piece.

Margaret Gunnersen William Hoggan Thomas Award


Margaret Gunnersen donated the William Hoggan Thomas Award in memory of her husband in 1985. Since her death in 2007 it has become a joint award still kindly supported by the Gunnersen family. The award is recognition of the members of the association who have more than 10 Years exhibiting experience and is voted by the members.

Anthony Kim received a mention for his work "Embrace on Seating Woman"

Anthony Kim "Embrace on Seating Figure"

2nd prize is $500 and was awarded to Mark Cowie for his work " Elemental" Congratulations Mark

Mark Cowie "Elemental"

1st prize is $1000 and a medallion created by Michael Meszaros

I feel most honoured and thrilled that my work "Grace" won the votes of my peers. Thank you so much.

Gillian Govan "Grace"

Rachel Boymal "Kyah - Rolling Form"

Dalchem is a leading supplier to the sculpting, modelling, movie moulding and casting industries. Darren McNicholas has again judged the Dalchem prize which consist of a voucher for supplies to the value of $350 He has chosen Kyah- Rolling Form the work of Rachel Boymal.

Darren Wrote:

I enjoyed the suggestion made by the sculpture; it guided me towards the human form, while causing my mind to ponder the strength and yet fragility of life.

I like the use of strong material, in this case bronze, to create such a delicate sculpture with elegant movement.

Rachel’s work gave me pleasure in its sophisticated simplicity

We were most privileged to welcome Dr Patrick Greene OBE. Chief Executive Officer of Museums Victoria.

Dr. Greene Worked was an Archaeologist in England. For 12 years on the largest monastic site excavation in Europe. In 1986 he gained a PhD at Leeds University and in 1983 he was appointed Director of the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester. He was made an Honorary Doctor of Science by Salford University in 1997. In 2002 he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Museums Victoria.

Dr Greene has been President of the Museum Association UK Chairman of the European Museum Forum, Chair of the UK Expert Panel of the Heritage Lottery Fund, Museums Archives and Libraries and a member of the English Heritage Industrial Archaeological Panel. He is a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, Of the Museum Association and of the Tourism Society. And member of the Council of Australian Museum Directors and National Collections Advisory Forum

Dr Patrick Greene was kind enough to find time in his busy schedule to present our Awards and open the exhibition. In his address he mentioned the honour and pleasure of having Andor Meszaros medallions at the museum. He also told us about his experience with sculpture during his excavation of Norton Priory in England. He mentioned different pieces from different periods in the history of the priory all made with different materials including large slabs of carved stone, statues and a bell casting pit in which a replica of the bell was made in 1977.

 There are many books written on the subject of Excavation of the Abbey.

Setting up this exhibition has been a huge challenge and there were many hoops, expected and unexpected to jump through but I think most of the exhibitors have been happy with the outcome.

I have been asked if we can hold our exhibition in 120 again next year. This would involve agreement with Investa Property Group and some changes in the conditions of entry. It would also involve finding a Coordinator to set up a committee. I am unable to do it again next year but aim to write a full report and plan with suggestions to enable this to be achieved. I will also be happy to give support and advice. Commencing this years arrangements was rather late which made it necessary to make some rapid decisions and a few errors along the way. It would therefore be good to start considering and working towards the 2015 exhibition now.

Our next meeting in October will be the AGM please come along and learn more about your association and have your say.

Happy Sculpting
Gillian Govan, President

Lucinda Brash "Welcome Home!"

Congratulations Lucinda Brash - winner of the People’s Choice with her "Welcome Home"