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.

Letter from the President

Gillian Govan
President ASV
Hi all fellow sculptors

Well the silly season is upon us but it is a good time to start the Christmas list.
Dear Santa
I would like vouchers for foundries, Bunnings, Dalchem, a new angle grinder, a set of chisels... 

How easy we are to buy for. Then we will be all ready for a full sculpting year.

I am very positive about next year after our Christmas get together when old and new members had such a good time passing on information and techniques in between the food and drink of course! Also next year, now that lots of problems have been solved, Herring Island should be great followed by the The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. Watch this space we may even have some news about another small exhibition. It is all happening. We look forward to seeing you all next year at Exhibitions and meetings.

The committee and I wish you a very Safe Happy Christmas and New Year

Gillian Govan
President

Dates for your Diary

9 December. Entries close Herring Island
15 December. early delivery Herring Is
11 January. 7:30am delivery & set up Herring Island.
Herring Island exhibition 12 January to 3 February
Monthly Meeting 13 February "Show & Tell" kicking off the year! Hosted by Jenny Whiteside
Likely mystery exhibition somewhere in Toorak Rd Camberwell keep in touch!
Entries close MIFGS 24 February
Monthly Meeting March - planning in progress
MIFGS exhibition 27 to 31 March
Adventure in Stratford organised by Gavin Roberts Wednesday April 10 - to be confirmed

The ASV Christmas Party

 We had a great party at Andrew Bryant’s studio and home at Shoreham - much chatter both social and sculpture related. Including getting active with some of Andrew’s grinders.. learning all the time. Thanks Andrew and Rachel for a superb day.

 

MIFGS 2019

Dear Sculptors,

As you may be aware entries for the ASV exhibition at the 2019 MIFGS are now open and preparations are in full swing.

YES! Herring Island 2019

Parks Victoria and Herring Island Summer Arts Festival are resolving difficulties: The paths and landing are being improved and access across the river is scheduled to be addressed during the year - Parks staff are working with us to resolve the remaining problems - so we are going ahead! ASV dates are:
Entries Close 9 Dec
Early drop off: 9am Saturday 15 Dec
Delivery and Set up: 7:30am Friday 11 Jan (from Como Landing)
Dismantle 14:30 Monday 4 February

This gives us four weekends. 

New Members and our History

Welcome to new members:
Jane Bennetts, Kate Gorman and Cassandra McArthur
we look forward to meeting you and seeing your work in exhibitions

Jackie Mckinnon
Membership Officer

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History for the ASV: we need a team to pursue our History project people to source grants, expand on a brief, develop ideas for presentation - anyone who can help in any way please contact Gillian Govan president@sculptorsvictoria.asn.au

News, Alerts and more...

This section of the newsletter looks at a selection of news and events - well worth a browse through - read on....

Seen Around..

The Original Children -
Stanley Hammond
I have been thinking for a while that it might be interesting to have photos in the newsletter of work by ASV members or past members that we come across in our travels.

I took the attached photos of a piece called "THE ORIGINAL CHILDREN" at Ashwood High School when I was there to vote last weekend. 

Letter from the President

Gillian Govan

It was rather disappointing that so few members were at the AGM as Sanne Mestrom was a great speaker and entertainer. She showed photos of her works explaining her thoughts and reasoning behind them. One group of works was an installation of pieces made from the leftovers of other artist work. This led me to think how fortunate we are to have the language of art to be able to express our own concerns about the future of our planet; and how we can influence humanity about the problems that exist around us. Global warming, Pollution and disposal of our ever accumulating waste as well encouraging the use of windpower, solar and geothermal energy.

Dates for Your Diary

ASV Christmas Party 25 November 2018

9 December entries close Herring Island

Herring Island exhibition 12 Jan to 3 Feb

Monthly Meeting 13 February "Show & Tell" kicking off the year! Hosted by Jenny Whiteside

Entries close MIFGS 24 February

MIFGS exhibition 27 to 31 March

Adventure in Stratford organised by Gavin Roberts Wednesday April 10 - to be confirmed

ASV Christmas Party


Work by Robert Klippell at Point Leo Estate
On Sunday 25th November we’ll hold our end of year celebration. That doesn’t mean stopping working - we’ll be hitting the ground running in the New Year with a full exhibition program - plus all the things that members are doing on their own inspiration!

So here are the plans: Either before or after the get together we’ll meet at Point Leo Estate and view the sculpture -

ASV AGM Wednesday 10 October

Sanne speaking at the AGM
Sanne Mestrom http://www.mestrom.org/ gave a great talk about her work and processes - and about her journey in the art world. This was enough to inspire a visit to TarraWarra where a select few of us saw and learned a whole lot more.

MIFGS 2019

Dear Members,

Here are the dates for next year’s MIFGS:.

The dates for the show are the 27th to the 31st of March 2019

Bump-in will be on the 23rd and 24th of March 2019
Entries will close last thing on Sunday 24th of February 2019 so that we can start processing on the Monday morning
Entries are open - forms are on the website and entry is via http://sculperenewsletter.blogspot.com/p/entry-form.html


Stories for promotion will be needed by November 2018

For the stories we require the following:
A verbal description of your work
Images of it being made and one of it finished if possible or a sketch of the final work
The story behind the piece
Some background to yourself and an image.
Any social media contacts and websites
We look forward to seeing your entries and looking forward to a successful show.

Best wishes Paul Cacioli ASV Coordinator for MIFGS

Yes! Herring Island 2019

Parks Victoria and Herring Island Summer Arts Festival are resolving difficulties: the paths and landing are being improved and access across the river is scheduled to be addressed during the year - Parks staff are working with us to resolve the remaining problems - so we are going ahead!

ASV dates are: 

Early drop off: 9am Saturday 15 Dec
Set up 7:40am Friday 11 Jan (from Como Landing)
Dismantle 14:30 Monday 4 February

This gives us four weekends.
Entry forms and details soon.
Jenny Rickards exhibition coordinator 0418971897

Visit to TarraWarra

On October 20st 4 members from the ASV attended an Exhibition at the TarraWarra Gallery in celebration of the TarraWarra Biennial 2018. The exhibition was called "From Will to Form" and included a number of floor talks, performances and a continious drop by workshop.
Part of the Hush Hush series by Sanne Mestrom at the TarraWarra Gallery, Yarra Valley

All the News and Alerts

here is a mixture of members' news and lots of interesting items...


Suzanne Kaldor "The Swingers"
Congratulations to Suzanne Kaldor on not only being accepted to show at Yering Station but also at 333 Collins St and sold her work ‘The Swingers" on the opening night.

Member's News

Bronze paper boat - Lana Thymianidis
After receiving the Tina Wentcher Award at the Annual Awards Exhibition 2018, Lana Thymianidis has had some exciting developments including an international Artist In Residence program. Lana is currently based in Norway developing her next body of bronze work. Her first work in this collection, ‘Fleeting’ will be exhibited in a group show at Fort Delta gallery (Fitzroy) from October 27.


Lana has asked to extend a thank you to the ASV community for their support

Welcome to New Member

Welcome to new member

Jacqueline Savage
 

We look forward to seeing you and your work at our exhibitions
Jackie Mackinnon ASV membership officer

What happened to September?

The ASV swan gliding across the water looked a bit sleepy but the feet were still paddling frantically beneath the surface - we have a lot coming up!

Firstly: the AGM is coming up - on Wednesday 10th October, at 7:30pm in the Ashburton Community Meeting Room with - wait for it... guest speaker Sanné Mestrom http://www.mestrom.org/

Sanne Mestrom is an installation artist based in Melbourne. She was born in 1979. and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Honours (Fine Art) in 2000 (RMITUniversity, Melbourne). In 2008, she received a PhD in Fine Art from RMITUniversity.

Diary Dates and ....

10 October: The AGM at 7:30pm in the Ashburton Community Meeting Rooms
  • A group visit to Point Leo Estate has been suggested - possibly without eating in the restaurant there. Let us know if you are interested in getting a group together.
 
Gillian Govan wearing the Activities hat 0412 122 884

Membership Renewals

Membership Renewals went out by email earlier last month. There has been a very good response for which we thank you. We will soon start chasing the rest of you!! If you did not get a renewal notice or have any questions please contact me Treasurer@sculptorsvictoria.asn.au

John Ride Treasurer ASV

Exhibiting large and expensive sculptures

Joe Taranto's "Morning Dew" at MIFGS 2018
Large sculpture - for example the Estate section of MIFGS - not only stands out on its own account but gives an exhibition a flavour and identity... but for the artist who produces that work there are costs not only in production but in transport, set up - and if you don’t sell it - storage. Plus the sculptors who produce these magnificent works are often country people whose studios can be larger and the neighbours further away... so more costs in travel and accomodation to exhibit in town.

Luted Crucible Casting

furnace
Piers Watson made contact with the ASV through the website. He proposes to come to Australia and run workshops in luted casting - as he has done in six other countries. You can find information about his workshops and the process on his website and Instagram account

ASV Exhibitions and Activities

We have a busy program in 2019 - ever evolving and dynamic - to hear the latest and to influence the way forward join us at the AGM on 10th October!

Tesselaar Sculpture Prize

John Bishop "Synergy"
The eleventh annual Tesselaar Sculpture Prize exhibition is underway in Silvan at the world famous Tulip Festival. Judging of the 2018 $20,000 acquisitive Tesselaar Sculpture Prize, has been completed.

As was to be expected, the judge, Michael Meszaros, had a very stimulating yet difficult exercise to undertake given the broad-ranging nature of the sculptures exhibited in the competition. He was very impressed by the quality, standard and styles of work presented and commented on the innovative and stimulating utilisation of media and presentation.

News and Alerts

This month we have our usual range of really interesting news... read on and find out more!

Annual Blacksmiths’ Convention
Celebrating 25 years of the Wandin Blacksmiths
When: 14th October 10.00am till 4.00pm
Where: 71 Wellington Road, Wandin North
What you get:
  • Free Entry
  • Free coffee and sausages
  • Blacksmiths demonstrating their skill
  • Rayner’s Orchard – one of the best stone fruit producers in the Yarra Valley
  • Medieval Re-enactment Group
  • Wood Turners
  • Yarra Valley Machinery Preservation Society
  • Knife making
  • Anvils, Forges, Tools for sale
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Meridian Sculpture Foundry is offering discounts for ASV members for workshops in wax working and bronze casting - you can see their program here: http://meridiansculpture.com/sculpture-modelling-workshops/ Dates coming up are: August 11th & 12th, Sept 15th & 16th, Oct 13th & 14th, Nov 3rd & 4th, Dec 1st & 2nd You can also follow them on Instagram meridiansculpture

From the Exhibition Coordinator

Yvonne Monik "Lite Encounter"
Hi all.

Congratulations on another successful Annual Awards exhibition. We had some very excited award winners and some happy exhibitors who sold their works. It was good to see sculptors getting to know each other and chatting about their sculpting journey and techniques. It was great having a few new members exhibiting.

The Annual & Awards Exhibition 2018

The Exhibition Launch & Presentation event was on the Thursday. We had food, wine and music and the event was well attended. We did have to move the exhibition desk for the event which meant some works didn’t look their best on the night... but on the whole we went well. Chris Deutcher judged most of the prizes and gave the address at the presentation event.

Here are the comments for each of the prizes:

Tina Wentcher -First Prize-
Lana Thymianidis -116 STAND

Diary Dates

September There are no activities organised for September not for lack of ideas but for a lack of someone to carry them through.

A group visit to Point Leo Estate has been suggested - possibly without eating in the restaurant there. Let us know if you are interested in getting a group together.

You can see Gavin Roberts suggestion further on in the newsletter too....

Next in the Exhibition Program

The dust hasn't settled on the Annual Exhibition yet... but we are planning our next moves:
MIFGS 2019
Dear Members,
The dates for next year’s MIFGS have been set so we just want to give you a heads-up on the timeline for what we need to be done.

Members' News and Comments

Thank you

I am on holiday now but I cannot allow the time to go by without thanking the committee and members for honouring me with life membership. It has been a privilege to be a member of the ASV and while a challenge at times I have enjoyed what have done and gained more than I have given. The top of the list being some wonderful friends. Thank you Anna for the beautifully crafted medallion.
Gillian
 
Activities Proposal from Gavin Roberts

I would love to package a day trip to Stratford for the ASV members. We have a 4km Shakespearean based sculpture walk and can also have lunch and an artist talk in the theatre.

News, Alerts, Things to See

As usual there is a lot to see, do and comment on.... don't miss out - read on!

Meridian Sculpture Foundry is offering discounts for ASV members for workshops in wax working and bronze casting - you can see their program here: http://meridiansculpture.com/sculpture-modelling-workshops/ Dates coming up are: Sept 15th & 16th, Oct 13th & 14th, Nov 3rd & 4th, Dec 1st & 2nd You can also follow them on Instagram meridiansculpture

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BOAA Tickets are now on sale!!
BOAA is taking place from 21 Sep - 6 Nov 2018 will a full program of exhibitions, events and happenings.

Are we nearly there yet?

The big day is soon! Organising the Annual and Awards Exhibition is in the last frantic days of making sure that this will be an awesome exhibition.

A huge thank you to all the exhibitors that have entered. Without you there would not be an exhibition. This year we have 120 sculptures from 69 Sculptors. Looking forward to seeing the sculptures standing proud in the foyer of the grand Bourke Place.

Dates for your Diary

9 August at 6pm Presentation event for the Annual and Awards Exhibition Our speaker Chris Deutscher will also be judging the Tina Wentcher sculpture Prize and other awards in the exhibition.

25 August Dismantle Annual Exhibition

Activities for the remainder of the year

1. As you see by the dates for your diary we have an exciting visit to the blacksmith in July. As we have the Annual Exhibition in August we will not have a meeting. But what will we do in September? I will be away and at this stage have nothing planned for the September meeting. Would anyone like to open their studio? Do you know a sculptor who would talk to us. Have you any ideas. Please contact me. I am hoping to organise a figure drawing class sometime and another foundry visir but not before I go away. Please help to fill the gap.

Monthly meeting at the Forge

Saturday 14th July was a great day - cool and sunny and perfect for the bright fires of the smithy at Mont Delancey. The historical Mont Delancey Homestead was built around 1860 and is still owned by the Sebire family.

The estate hosts the smithy and a wood turning workshop.

Welcome to New Member and a message from the Treasurer

This month we welcome Ms Diana Padua Fernandes
All the best - we look forward to seeing your work in exhibitions.
Jackie Mackinnon ASV memberships

Membership Renewals

Membership Renewals went out by email earlier this month. There has been a very good response for which we thank you. We will soon start chasing the rest of you!! If you did not get a renewal notice or have any questions please contact me Treasurer@sculptorsvictoria.asn.au

John Ride Treasurer ASV




News, Alerts, Exhibitions and more

There's plenty happening to view, to enter, to experience... read on...


Meridian Sculpture Foundry is offering discounts for ASV members for workshops in wax working and bronze casting - you can see their program here: http://meridiansculpture.com/sculpture-modelling-workshops/  Dates coming up are: August 11th & 12th, Sept 15th & 16th, Oct 13th & 14th, Nov 3rd & 4th, Dec 1st & 2nd You can also follow them on Instagram meridiansculpture

Jo Felstead-Hill on Disruption

Jo Felstead-Hill "Fragment of a Journey"
from the Herring Island Exhibition
Hi All,

At the last committee meeting a short discussion regarding the concept of ‘disruption’ was mentioned.

Current as not only a word but a concept for changing technology, "disruptive innovation’ is applicable to the creative arts and by its very nature sculpture. The constant innovation and technological changes have moved the nature of creative sculptural practice and extended the possibilities available.

Annual & Awards Exhibition 2018

Entries have been received and will be reviewed shortly. A huge thanks to all the sculptors who have entered into this great exhibition. It is always good to see all the new sculptures that have been created. Well done to all. Acceptance letters will be sent out soon. If you do not receive an acknowledgement of your entry by 6th July please contact Yvonne. Invitations will be available soon.

Yvonne Monik and Gillian Govan
Annual Exhibiton Coordinators

Diary Dates


Saturday 14 July. At 9.30am you are invited to Mont Delancey Homestead, where the Wandin Blacksmiths have their smithy. Paul Cacioli along with Oskar Huecherig will do some demonstrations showing how both functional and artistic smithing is accomplished. The session will be open format where questions are welcome and those adventurous enough may put hammer to steel (under tight supervision).
By the end of the session you will hopefully understand how blacksmithing may help enhance your own art work and what the difference is between smithing and fabrication.
It will end around 12.00 noon with some tea, coffee and cake.
The historical Mont Delancey Homestead, built around 1860 and is still owned by the Sebire family, is located in the Yarra Valley at 71 Wellington Road, Wandin North, 3139.
We look forward to seeing you.
Best wishes, Paul Cacioli

Monthly Meeting by the fire...

Most of the June meeting was a fireside chat about everyone’s work - however we did pull together for the formal part of the night to confirm - unanimously - that Gillian Govan is to be an honorary life member of the ASV in recognition of her years of service and contribution.
 
Ismiadi's work

Welcome to New Members

Welcome to New Members: This month we welcome

Nives Zorzut and Dr Peter Toyne
All the best - we look forward to seeing your work in exhibitions.
 
Jackie Mackinnon ASV memberships

How to Finance your Work?

Did you start out with the business plan of make stuff and sell it? How did that work out for you? For a future newsletter could someone take a look at crowd funding? For example there’s the Australian Cultural Fund https://australianculturalfund.org.au/ ; Pozible https://pozible.com/  and more.... take a look and let us know your experience.

News, Alerts, Exhibitions and more


We have many and varied news items... don't miss any of these! Exhibitions to see or enter... lots of news!
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Carrie Kennedy is looking for a sculptor who works in timber and has a studio which would look like a working timber sculptor’s studio - someone who carves big logs preferably ? This is for a new TV show called Bloom and one of the characters is a sculptor. carrie@carbencopy.com.au 0408349576

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Inspiration from Yvonne Monik: Coordinator of the 2018 Annual Exhibition

Entries are now open for the ASV Annual & Awards Exhibition in August.

Once again the exhibition will be held in the foyer spaces of Bourke Place, 600 Bourke Street and will run from 6th to 24th August 2018. This is the fourth time we’ve run the exhibition at Bourke Place.

The committee are all working towards organising another successful exhibition.

Entries close 25th June. 

Diary Dates

Tuesday 12 June at 7:30pm bring some work for a show & tell and conversation at Gillian’s place, (20 England Street Bentleigh East) by a warm fire with a glass of wine. Part of the meeting will be a General Meeting of members so that we can vote on a proposal by Jenny Rickards that Gillian Govan be made an Honorary Life Member of the ASV. There’s an article in the body of this newsletter. Proxies can be sent to secretary@sculptorsvictoria.asn.au

Mon 25 June Entries close for Annual & Awards Exhibition
Sun14 July Blacksmithing at the smithy. Watch this space!


Important dates for the Annual & Awards Exhibition 2018

Studio visit with Yvonne Monik

Yvonne with her work at 2017 Annual Exhibition
At first only four people gathered but then the later comers swelled the numbers to a small crowd of sculptors attending Yvonne Monik’s studio for an amazing and inspiring evening. The night was cold but we all gathered in her cosy studio to learn about her work and learn about her magnificent collection of tools and equipment. Yvonne explained not only how she creates her art in clay, but also how she produces magnificent welded frames to display some of her work.

You and the ASV website

New members to the ASV receive a welcome email which, amongst other things describes how to log in to the website to enter details of your sculpture practice. Your profile page on the website can act as a portal to the rest of the information you have online about yourself:
  • you can edit your details such as address and phone numbers 
  • you can upload one profile image - hopefully a portrait of yourself at work
  • you can upload an artist’s biography to describe yourself and your practice.
  • show your ABN, external website and preferred sculpture media
  • the styles and scale of work that you undertake, and possible settings for that work
  • and whether you work to commission or run classes

So the next question is - how do I log in to do all this? Most members don’t remember... or joined before the website had this facility... wow that was a while ago!

Honorary Life Member

Gillian Govan (https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/sculptors/profile/gillian-govan) joined us when the ASV was meeting at Kingston Art Centre and had only been in a short while when Rod Sanders persuaded her to talk about her work in 2002. He had seen an article about her concrete sculptures in Country Style magazine. We’ve seen her work in exhibitions since 2003.. hard working as well as inspired.

In 2014 her work "Grace" won the Margaret Gunnersen William Hoggan Thomas Award - this during the time she has served as ASV president.

History for the ASV

We need a team to pursue our History project people to source grants, expand on a brief, develop ideas for presentation - anyone who can help in any way please contact Gillian Govan president@sculptorsvictoria.asn.au

Welcome to New Members:

This month we welcome

Frances Richardson and Tim Kervin (returning)

All the best - we look forward to seeing your work in exhibitions.


Jackie Mackinnon ASV memberships

News, Alerts, Opportunities and more

There's even more in this section than usual - read on for valuable information....

Meridian Sculpture Foundry is offering workshops in wax working and bronze casting - you can see their program here: http://meridiansculpture.com/sculpture-modelling-workshops/ You can also follow them on Instagram meridiansculpture

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LAURENCE EDWARDS
PART OF THE LANDSCAPE
EVOLUTION & EXPLORATION 

13TH MAY - 6TH JUNE
MESSUMS WILTSHIRE I 409 MALVERN RD I SOUTH YARRA VIC 3141 I AUSTRALIA

Some of us saw the Lawrence Edwards exhibition at Messums Wiltshire - https://messumswiltshire.com/laurence-edwards-melbourne/



https://messumswiltshire.com/laurence-edwards-melbourne/

Inspiration from Jo Felstead-Hill

Jo Felstead-Hill "Botanicus"
First Prize Courtyard Sculpture
With the fantastic response to the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show being reflected in numbers visiting and also sales it is a great time to reflect on what this means not only to the ASV but the general arts community.

Grame Wilkie’s comment of art as a Visual Language is critical to a view of ourselves as artists.

Diary Dates

Yvonne Monik "Radiance"
We mostly meet in the community meeting rooms of the Ashburton Baptist Church. Enter the building from the Marquis Street carpark. We’ll start at 7:30pm

16 May: Visit Yvonne Monik’s studio 1 Anita Court Doncaster East - starting at 7:30pm

In June part of the meeting will be a General Meeting of members so that we can vote on a proposal by Jenny Rickards that Gillian Govan be made an Honorary Life Member of the ASV. There’s an article in the body of this newsletter.

Sun14 July Blacksmithing at the smithy. Watch this space!

Annual and Awards Exhibition 2018

No sooner are we starting to breathe again after the excitement of one exhibition when we are into the preparations for the next.... The dates are set 6 to 24 August... the venue is known - Bourke Place, 600 Bourke Street Melbourne... entry forms and conditions of entry are in the final stages of preparation.

Proposed Honorary Life Member

Gillian Govan (https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/sculptors/profile/gillian-govan)  joined the ASV a while back... tempted in by Rod Sanders who saw her work either at Manyung Gallery or in a magazine. It was a while ago... we’ve seen her work in exhibitions since 2003.. hard working as well as inspired.

In 2014 her work "Grace" won the Margaret Gunnersen William Hoggan Thomas Award - this during the time she has served as ASV president.

Tribute to Matthew Harding

At 6:30am Saturday 17th March 2018 a small group of Lorne locals, artists, idolising sculptors, dog walkers and LSB organisers (such as founding member Graeme Wilkie and 2018 Curator Lara Nicholls), all gathered around Matthew Harding’s iconic work "Landbridge", to share thoughts and admirations of him in what was very apt weather for emotional farewells!

You and the ASV website

 
New members to the ASV receive a welcome email which, amongst other things describes how to log in to the website to enter details of your sculpture practice.

News and Alerts

As usual we've packed lots of different stories in here - be sure to read them all....



Meridian Sculpture Foundry is offering workshops in wax working and bronze casting - you can see their program here: http://meridiansculpture.com/sculpture-modelling-workshops/ You can also follow them on Instagram meridiansculpture
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Welcome to New Members

This month we welcome
Colin Govan and Andre Sardone (returning)
All the best - we look forward to seeing your work in exhibitions.

LORNE SCULPTURE BIENNALE March-April 2018 Report, by Jackie Mackinnon

This year’s essentially sponsored LSB exhibition was its sixth, titled “Landfall”

(d: water or storm damage to land; land first sighted..). The curator, Lara Nichols (who commuted all the way from NGA Canberra) not only selected all 43 artists but also the Landfall theme ‘nature, humanity and art’ - “to bring together brilliant local and international artists who would delve into the dilemma of our endangered world by not being afraid of expressing their thoughts, with emphasis on their environmental awareness & responsibility!”

However, did they get that across? In my opinion most did not! WHERE were all the big meaningful ’Landfall’ sculptures? I felt very disappointed with the real lack of daring or ideal big statement, the lack of innovation and awesomeness - including the usually stunning Small LSB Exhibition; the déja vu-ism bordered on banality, if not boring!! There was a pyramid of old TVs with foil-covered screens; there was a giant shotgun, pointing out to sea of course; a giant-sized bench at the edge of the water; Sonya Payes’ giant-sized black & white facial impressions of her daughter eerily embedded in the sand which kids played all over! There was a story of starkly hideous obelisks with a few plastic flowers on the ground; not to mention the two house frontages, one built out of huge stone blocks & the other out of annoyingly very, very evenly chopped firewood all staked & wired together by a NZer!....
Marcus Tatton 'The Equation"
I was so longing for the three little pigs and a big bad wolf to jump out and start some entertainment!

Experiencing the Triennial at the NGV.

As I walked into the rooms with other curious art lovers, I found an overwhelming happy feeling brought on by the simple shape of a red flower. Every where!! They were glued over the kitchen, bathroom, lounge, bedroom and everywhere else! Children loved it. People were surprised and wondering why there were these flowers. “Is this ART?”, I heard people ask. ”It’s wonderful” was the reaction of all. The artist wanted to submerge the world in flowers.

MIFGS 2018 Review and Judgement

From Graeme Wilkie - judge of the Sculpture garden at the 2018 Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show
Review and Judgement


Paul Cacioli asked me, yesterday, what am I looking for as a judge?

Sculpture to me, has always been a visual language.

Not about words… but of an experience in a spatial sense contemplation.


Graeme Wilkie & David Long
Judging well, we all do that! We all rely on our own perception and our egotistic preferences. …within the viewing experience.



I, first, draw on my perception and then rely on a personal aesthetic, with an eye for detail and also consider the craft skills of the maker.

Diary Dates

We mostly meet in the community meeting rooms of the Ashburton Baptist Church. Enter the building from the Marquis Street carpark. We’ll start at 7:30pm

There won’t be a meeting in April - we’ve dropped the bundle after MIFGS and we’ve taken off on holidays.... likely a studio visit or cosy fireside chat in May - . do we have volunteers?

Matthew Harding Memorial at Lorne

Matthew’s last work "Landbridge"
Next month we’ll publish Jackie Mckinnon’s article on Matthew Harding’s memorial and the Lorne Bienale.
 

The March meeting with John Bishop

John with his work for the
Edrington Exhibition
John Bishop and his work mainly in limestone.

A select group of us enjoyed an evening with John Bishop. He talked about how he got started in sculpture - his approach to his work and his progress.
John was an active figure at the recent MIFGS - both as an exhibitor and as a demonstrator - working through rain and shine and inspiring lots of people.
Here are his three works from MIFGS: Fragment, Neo and Plant Form #3
There’s a Youtube clip from 2011 that’s really worth watching too - see it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=LgfcLf64mvI





Opportunities to Enter or View, News and Events

Lots of Interesting news this month - read on for opportunities or things to see....

Meridian Sculpture Foundry is offering workshops in wax working and bronze casting - you can see their program here: http://meridiansculpture.com/sculpture-modelling-workshops/ It’s worth noting that Meridian’s prizes at this year’s Annual Exhibition included a workshop - there’s something to think about! You can also follow them on Instagram meridiansculpture

NAVA News


Owning the right to your own work

Across Australia this month, visual artists are being fêted at the nation’s highest-profile events - the Adelaide Biennale, the Biennale of Sydney, the NGV Triennial, with the Perth and the Adelaide Festivals ending only recently - and for each of these events there will be tens of thousands of Tweeted links, Instagrammed images and Facebooked responses.


Read more at https://visualarts.net.au/news-opinion/2018/owning-right-your-own-work/?utm_source=MASTER+List+-+Email+Subscribers+%2B+Members&utm_campaign=83d8dddda2-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_News_03&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0001b90ee5-83d8dddda2-76430669



News from McClelland Gallery



NEW DIRECTOR @ McCLELLAND SCULPTURE PARK plus the announcement of the Southern Way McClelland Commission

ASV Notices

Here are some of the items we need to attend to in order to keep the wheels on the ASV:

Vale Matthew Harding

The Association of Sculptors of Victoria is saddened to learn of the recent death of Matthew Harding. With the announcement of Matthew's memorial service many obituaries will be coming in - here is a tribute from Mark Cowie reflecting his and our loss.


I am saddened to write informing members of the Association of Sculptors of Victoria of the recent death of Matthew Harding who tragically ended his life on Thursday, 22 February 2018, in Trentham, aged 53.

Matthew resided in Trentham with his wife and four young children. His studio and workshop are also based in the township. Many of you will remember him opening the Association’s Annual exhibition in 2016.

Although acquainted through friendship, it is only appropriate that those closest to Matthew reference his life and speak to his personal qualities. With that in mind, if I may, I would like to offer the following tribute.

It is challenging to describe the depth and complexity of Matthew’s life as an artist. The breadth of his three-decade-long artistic career is extensive and significant. A prolific, multi-skilled artist with a considerable exhibiting history, he has notable lists of private commissions and major public installations, and some noteworthy prize awards. The array of his sculptural and visual art works situated across Victoria, around Australia and in many parts of the world are testament to and a constant reminder of his standing as one of the most inventive, appealing and well-respected contemporary Australian designers and sculptors.

The evident regard for Matthew’s mighty catalogue of works arises in response to his appreciation of conceptual excellence, his keenness for creative challenges, and, ultimately, his bravery and tenacity in achieving resolution of the form. I, for one, am inspired, and often rediscover my sense of wonderment, when viewing many of his works. And in all that energy to manifest works engendering intrigue, intricacy and dynamism, his artistic temperament has stood strong and authentically. Matthew’s seemingly innate ability to conceive and design sculpture of sometimes stunning magnitude and scale, yet all the while counter-pointed by works of contemplative and reflective qualities, reveal time and again his exquisite craftsmanship and dexterity traversing many styles, media and disciplines.

I was fortunate and honoured to have Matthew open and introduce my exhibition at Little Gallery in Trentham in 2016. He was in fine form that evening.

Matthew will be profoundly and forever missed by his family. He will be deeply missed as a wonderful human being. His infectious behaviour, enthusiasm and engagement with so many as a mentor, collaborator, colleague and friend will also be missed for long. May he remain an inspiration for future artistic endeavours of many within the creative collective.

My sincere condolences to Matthew’s immediate and extended family.

Vale Matthew Harding, farewell.
Mark Cowie

A Mass celebrating Matthew’s life will be conducted on Thursday 8th March 2018, at 11:00am at St Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, in Trentham. Immediately following the Mass, Matthew will be buried at Trentham Cemetery. The service will be followed by a wake at the Cosmopolitan Hotel, Trentham. For more information please contact Natural Grace Funeral Services in Woodend on 1300 008 037. Matthew’s wife, Freya, plans to create a garden in Matthew’s honour, so that the family can tend, nurture and grow something beautiful from their loss. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to bring a frost-tolerant plant of your choice.


More information can be found on http://www.matthewharding.com.au/ including a link to a support fund to assist his young family.

Letter for February

http://melbflowershow.com.au/
Hi Everyone,

I am Paul Cacioli and have taken on the daunting task of managing this year’s ASV Sculpture Exhibition at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. The MIFGS is run by a company called The International Marketing Group (IMG) and they kindly sponsor us by providing the site, services and some of the prize money. They also provide some promotional help through Hot House Media who organize all the promotions for the Show as contracted by IMG.

MIFGS opening soon...

This time next month we’ll be in the middle of the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show - preparations are frantic in some studios.... Invitations to the presentation event and preview will accompany this newsletter.

If you are not exhibiting and would like to be involved in the show - and get to experience it close to - you can volunteer to "sit" the show or work in the demonstration event. Please contact Paul Cacioli asv_mifgs@sculptorsvictoria.asn.au 0429 575 299 if you can help.

The work that will on show is looking great - we look forward to an impressive and inspirational show.

Dates for Your Diary

We meet in the community meeting rooms of the Ashburton Baptist Church. Enter the building from the Marquis Street car park. We’ll start at 7:30pm


John Bishop with his work  

14 March after a well attended meeting at Dean Bowen’s studio on 21 February we feel we are on a roll - both new and familiar faces filled the space - it was great to see you all. In March we’ll have a talk by John Bishop on his artistic journey in sculpture. See you at 7:30pm at the Ashburton Baptist Church Community meeting rooms

21 to 25 March - MIFGS - we hope to see you exhibitng and/or at the prize presentation.

We will try to make the rest of the year as exciting as our first 2 meetings. Please send your ideas to Gillian 0412 122 884. Another studio visit? A Foundry visit? Life drawing class? Love to get your ideas and help in organising.

A Visit to Dean Bowen's Studio


Thorry Gunnersen November 29 1940 - February 4th 2018

We are sad to announce the death of Thorry Gunnersen, nephew of our past member, Margaret Gunnersen Thomas. Margaret was an active and generous member, who initiated the William Hoggan Thomas Prize, now the Gunnersen Thomas Prize.

When she died some years ago, Thorry took on the responsibility of donating $1000 each year towards the Thomas Prize in memory of Margaret.

He was an enthusiastic supporter of the ASV in this way and attended many of our Annual Shows. 

He was a successful businessman and an adventurous sailor who remained a sympathetic and approachable friend of the ASV.


Michael Meszaros

The News - in no particular order

Plenty of news for everyone! Exhibitions to enter, exhibitions to see, expressions of interest and news in general - such as:


Meridian Sculpture Foundry is offering workshops in wax working and bronze casting - you can see their program here: http://meridiansculpture.com/sculpture-modelling-workshops/  It’s worth noting that Meridian’s prizes at last year’s Annual Exhibition included a workshop - there’s something to think about! You can also follow them on Instagram meridiansculpture

The Perplexed and the Ridiculous

Exhibition Entries Saga
So you have your idea or the sculpture’s already made.

Dates for Your Diary

Remembering that our best resources are our own members you can look forward to the next few months. We’ll meet in the community meeting rooms of the Ashburton Baptist Church. Enter the building from the Marquis Street carpark. We’ll start at 7:30pm

12 February entries close MIFGS 2018

21 February let’s kick off the year with a "show and tell" bring some work to talk about, or a problem to brainstorm or a suggestion for social media publicity.... or even an offer of help for the program? 7:30pm at the Ashburton Baptist Church Community meeting rooms

MIFGS Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition 2018



Unfortunately we have had a change of judge for the exhibition - but fortunately Graeme Wilke of Qdos gallery will be our judge for 2018.

Get your entries in! http://sculperenewsletter.blogspot.com.au/p/melbourne-international-flower-garden.html

Herring Island Exhibition


Herring Island was a great show - the work was a diverse range of media and ideas... and all of it deserved to go to good homes. In the end only five works were sold. Congratulations to Hugues Scheid, Veronique Derville (2), Liddy Wright, and Bruce Webb. We must have handed out close to 500 People’s Choice voting slips.... that’s a lot of interested people. The last day of the show was cancelled on Parks Victoria’s instruction because of high temperatures and north wind. That’s just the way it goes on the island in the summer. Images are online at https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/exhibitions/view_exhibition/2018-herring-island-summer-arts-festival

 

History for the ASV

we need a team to pursue our History project people to source grants, expand on a brief, develop ideas for presentation - anyone who can help in any way please contact Gillian Govan president@sculptorsvictoria.asn.au

Welcome to New Members

Welcome to new and returning members:
David Doyle, Aukje van Vark, Eva Glac and Conrad Clark
we look forward to meeting you & seeing your work in ASV exhibitions

All Sorts of News

When I counted there were twenty two news items here - to keep you busy sorting the exhibitions to enter from the ones to see... and more... enjoy.
************************************************************
NGV TRIENNIAL
UNTIL 15 APR 18
NGV INTERNATIONAL
FREE ENTRY


Could someone please visit the NGV in the next month or so and give us a report on the first Triennial.

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Toorak Sculpture Exhibition

Sculptors Victoria on Herring Island

it rained a bit while we were setting up
The ASV opened on Herring Island on 13th January - the weather was kind and the rain held off until the opening formalities were over.

Guests were greeted by the one man band Uptown Brown - he really lifted the energy of the event.



The opening of the ASV show "Meander" was also the launch of the Herring Island Summer Arts Festival. Speakers at the opening were Robert Lee, coordinator of HISAF, Gillian Govan, Immediate Past President of the ASV and CEO of Parks Victoria, Chris Hardman.

Chris Hardman, CEO Parks Victoria
The title of the show "Meander" inspired some of the artists in their work - for others meander was a reflection of their career path. However it impinged, the island encourages everyone to meander amongst the works in the gallery, the sculpture placed around the island and the restored "natural" bushland the result of work by the Friends of Herring Island and Parks Victoria.

The first sale of the exhibition went to new member Hugues Scheid, with "Dédain - Disdain" being promised to a new home. So far (end of day four) we have sold five works and received lots of people's choice votes - a well received exhibition.

Hugues Scheid "Dédain - Disdain"

Images of the works in the exhibition can be seen here.



Images in this post from Jackie Mackinnon and Jenny Rickards