Judge’s Report
As part of the selecting process, I took time to contemplate each artist’s method and technical qualities and additionally, considered the artist’s intent – that is - did the work say something to me, does it have a strong and unique viewpoint and is it emotive.
The works that I have selected for this year’s prizes fulfil these subjective criteria. And first up I am going to announce the two awards selected for Carved Works.
The sculpture chosen for the Second Prize in the Carved Work category goes to a work that stood out for its individual approach to its subject matter. Though the landscape is a familiar subject in sculpture, it is often characterised by abstracted organic forms or through the choices of materials that have an affinity to nature. This work was more descriptive in its approach, and I enjoyed the works rough textural lines. This award goes to No.13 Moon on the Rise by Kevin Free.
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| Plant Form by John Bishop |
The sculpture selected for the First prize of the Carved Work Category is one I instantly thought was elegant and refined. Simplicity is one of the most difficult things to achieve in sculpture - or any art form for that matter. There is no compassion for flaws when a form is reduced down to the basics. So the first prize goes to No.3 Plant Form by John Bishop.
The two prizes for Formed or Cast Works. This was an interesting section to judge, as it covered the materials of bronze, ceramics - including mosaics, and plaster and synthetics.
The second prize goes to sculpture of a simple everyday item that has been created in a material that fundamentally goes against the objects purpose - but convincingly captures the softness and comfort of the form. The award goes to the mosaic pillow No.58 Finding Comfort #1 by Cetta Pilati.
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| Feeling the Infinite by Jackie Mackinnon |
The first prize is given to a work that suggested to me, the artist had a very good understanding of the material and how to enhance it through the subtle application of colour. The form was seductive, sensitive and assured. The first prize is for the bronze flower casting No.52 Feeling the Infinite by Jackie Mackinnon.
The final two awards are given to sculptors who have produced Fabricated or Assembled Works. This was the largest field of work to select from, which included 120 entries.
The second prize selected from this category is for a sculpture that stood out to me immediately. Its striking geometric form could be viewed from any angle, and offered a new perspective each time. It was also a technically accomplished work. The second prize goes to No.112 Triptic by Fatih Semiz.
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| Home is a Foreign Place by Jo Felstead-Hill |
Penny Teale Senior Curator, McClelland Gallery
ASV MIFGS Sculpture Exhibition 2016 - Curator's Report
The 2016 ASV MIFGS Sculpture Exhibition was, as always, another high-standard exhibition presented by the Association and its members. The exhibition also just happens to be Australia’s largest outdoor sculpture exhibition by the number of sculptures on display. The level of interest displayed by the tens of thousands of viewers of the 118 sculptures produced by 60 sculptors was extraordinary.
Unfortunately, the confluence of atrocious weather, decreased crowd numbers over the five days and other competing major events around Melbourne all had an impact on visitor numbers to the exhibition and subsequently sales. At the close of the exhibition 17 works had been sold, creating sales of almost $10,000. Congratulations to those artists who sold works.
Penny Teale, senior curator at McClelland Sculpture Park + Gallery, generously agreed to judge this year’s exhibition. Following her presentation at the official opening of the exhibition, Penny announced the following winners across the three prize categories: First Prize in section one went to John Bishop for ‘Plant Form’. Second Prize in section one went to Kevin Free for ‘Moon on the Rise’. In section two, First Prize was awarded to Jackie Mackinnon for ‘Feeling the Infinite’ and Second Prize went to Cetta Pilati for ‘Finding Comfort #1’. And in section three, First Prize went to Jo Felstead-Hill for ‘Home is a Foreign Place’ and Second Prize in the section to Fatih Semiz for ‘Triptic’.
Despite some of the previously mentioned impacts, the level of interest in the exhibition resulted in more than 7,000 votes for the People’s Choice Award being lodged over the five days, which was an excellent effort. The extent and spread of the voting across the entire range of sculptures is testimony to the level of engagement you created for the viewers.
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| Max - My Favourite bad Dog by Katy Knighton |
The recipient of this year’s $500 People’s Choice Award – sponsored by the International Management Group – was Katy Knighton for her work, ‘Max - My Favourite Bad Dog’. Congratulations Katy. Your work certainly attracted an extraordinary level of interest and created much joy over the five days of the exhibition. Completing the top six people’s choices were: Jake Mikoda’s ‘Robin in a Wattle’, Rod Lee’s ‘Waiting for Mum’, Paul Genning’s ‘Banksia’, Todd Stuart’s ‘Dragonfly’ and Gavin Robert’s ‘Life All Consuming’.
The diversity of the individual expression and the collective creativity of the exhibition was inspiring as well as being an absolute pleasure to curate. I thoroughly enjoyed the spirit and energy that was generated while interacting with all exhibitors.
Mark Cowie
Curator, ASV MIFGS Sculpture Exhibition 2016
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