ASV March Newsletter

 

Association of Sculptors of Victoria  

Sculpere Newsletter

March Newsletter 2022

Presidents' News

We herald in the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, known as MIFGS!

Throughout the ages sculpture has played an integral part in the enjoyment of the private and public garden. Often these days contemporary garden design does not embrace the inclusion of a sculptural form...we wonder why? A prominent English Sculptor, Antony Gormely, says, by 'being a rock in the stream of our lives (sculpture) invites us to stop, reconsider, to reassess'.

When we interact with visitors let us bring to the conversation how a sculpture can add impact and interest to an existing or future garden design. How abstract angles can compliment organic forms of trees, water features, paths and plants. The sculpture can elevate a space, can become a focal point of interest and expand enjoyment and create experience. The choice of sculpture would compliment a garden design and the clients taste and also relate to the purpose of the garden. Opting for a unique piece will outway the mass produced and will create a special statement that can add overt as well as carry hidden meanings when placed in situ. And let us not shy away from the fact that a unique sculpture can be designed for a specific site, there is the option of commissioning.

Good luck and we hope that your sculpture will find a special resting home.

ASV News and Survey

 ASV News

From the Social Media team

In 2020 Chris Anderson and I formed a social media team, as we saw a possibility for a more active presence on social media.
Since then we have been actively promoting exhibitions in real life and online.
We have been able to increase the reach of our social media (Facebook and instagram) massively, which is great because of course, with covid, it was hard to reach people in real life.

We also started a Facebook group for members of the ASV only, which functions as an easy way to communicate, ask questions, find help, share: ‘call for artists, support each other, etc. (ASV members group on Facebook)

The large advantage of social media platforms is that people ‘follow’ what they think is interesting- so that makes it easy to target an audience, and reach the people that like sculpture, or art in general.
In this way it is a very focussed effort to advertise what we do- and our exhibitions. Compared to flyers in a cafe, where a lot of people come, but are not necessarily interested, this is a lot more effective.

And- it's free!!!

THE BUT:

As social media grows organically - people need to find us, by searching for ‘interested’, or by ‘following’ hashtags (on instagram mainly) .
People who are not actively looking at a time we are advertising- don’t get reached.
This is where we all (ALL our members) can play a role.

Every time we have a show I make an ‘event’ on Facebook. If all members on Facebook share these events a LOT (often)- they spread to your friends, their friends, and further (ask your friends to share as well)
You can also create your own posts, copy the link of the event, and add a photo of your work in the show.

The more the event gets shared, the more free advertising we get!

Studio Visits

 

Studio Visits

DON’T FORGET! : Dean Bowen Wednesday 5th May 21 Hamlet Street (off Bay Road), Cheltenham.

When reading about Dean Bowen's artistic journey and enjoying the art images I was present to the positive energy radiating from his work....'it's palpable'. The words that sprung to mind are 'prolific'; whimsical, fun, childlike, joyous, humour, quirky characters and zeal.

'Melbourne artist Dean Bowen has been making art for over 40 years. His multidisciplinary practice spans painting, sculpture and printmaking, with a prolific creative output consistently evolving through ‘a prism of humour and optimism’.

He creates work that tells life affirming stories of urban and rural places populated by whimsical and cheerful characters, living harmoniously within their constructed environments.

By Gunnel Watkins

Current exhibition can be viewed at the Shrine of Remembrance 

• ‘IMAGINING CENTAUR EXHIBITION, on until APRIL 2022’
• Link : http://deanbowen.com/news/

Report on the studio visit to Alex Goad

What an amazing evening when 18 plus members and interested partners attended the factory/ studio of Alex Goad. He spoke very clearly and succinctly about his work and his wonderfully innovative projects. He loves sculpture and expresses his love of creating with clay, and the difficult time he had during his degree trying to marry art with computer technology and digital 3D printing.

Exhibitions and Interesting Art

Exhibitions 

Keep an eye on the ASV website for up to date information on activities.

Yarra Valley Arts invites you to explore our Open Studios 2022.  

23 artists, ranging from potters, painters, sculptors and photographers will open their studios on one of the weekends below in March.    Studios are open 10-5 both days

Weekend 1   -  Yarra Valley 19 - 20 March,     Weekend 2  -  Upper Yarra  26 - 27 March    www.yava.org.au/openstudios

                                  Art at Acheron entries close 5th April  Sculpture at Acheron’ exhibition from 15th - 19th April

                                                      Sculpture at Acheron - Home | Facebook

Environmental Art Prize with Global Impact: Calling all artists and designers: this national art prize is looking for innovative ideas for the future. 

                                             Environmental art prize with global impact | ArtsHub Australia

AND…

• Works required for installation now for ARTPark Australia’s signature exhibits 
• ● ‘Woolloomooloo Sculpture Walk’, at Woolloomooloo Wharf - NSW
• ● ‘Walsh Bay Sculpture Walk’, at the Sydney Newest Arts Hub, Walsh Bay - NSW
• ● ‘The Hunter Valley Sculpture Walk’, at Pokolbin - NSW
• 
  
• ARTPark Aust. has now been exhibiting for about 11 years with a significant and powerful public art & sculpture online presence.  We are wishing to expand the repertoire of artists represented in the exhibitions and also those that can offer other works in terms of public artworks that are for sale though the exhibitions and online.
• Please consider the site www.ARTPark.com.au and the exhibition photo galleries from our social media pages.
• Interesting Art
• 
  
• Do you know about the art of De Wain Valentine?  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeWain_Valentine
• 
  
  
  
  
• 
  
• PROGRAMS + EVENTS | McClelland Gallery
• A thousand different angles
• 21 February – 5 June 2022 
• A thousand different angles foregrounds the legacy of Inge King and Norma Redpath, two central figures of Australian modernist sculpture with significant works in McClelland’s outdoor collection. In conjunction, eleven contemporary artists will be showcased who extend conceptual and aesthetic concerns in King and Redpath’s practice, and who expand the legacies of modernism in a contemporary spatial context:
• 
  
• 
  
• What’s On at Abbotsford Convent? Click here for some better information and plenty of ideas.  What's on at Abbotsford Convent - performances, festivals, classes, more!
• Abbotsford Farmers Market goes weekly!
• 
  
• Visit the Gas Works for some wonderful events. What's On | Gasworks Arts Park
• 
  
• Here is a twitter site with some interesting arty information  
• https://twitter.com/KnightLAT/status/1497227002335485952?s=20&t=3VnDLIscNEuVUjLBK9i26A

• Have you been to Bulleen’s Art and Garden? The gallery exhibits wonderful art. Now showing: “Alice in Wonderland” – A story told using ceramic sculpture and painting. By Meredith Plain, Lynne Foard, Lisa Hopper.  19th March to 25th April, 2022 at Bolin Bolin Gallery https://gallery.baag.com.au/event/alice-in-wonderland
• And, 
• an interesting book about sculpture   "Sculptures of Melbourne” by Mark S. Holsworth  Published by Melbourne Books  

Artists' News and Requests

News

Membership Renewals

We have been unable to send out reminders about membership renewals since well back into last year. There was a glitch with our website which prevented the payment system working. We have recently changed where our website is hosted and now things are working again. We have recently sent reminders to those who owed for this year or last year and have had a very good result. Thank you to those who have paid up.

A warning to any who have not been paid for more than 2 years we will be reviewing our membership data and changing your status to ex-member. This means you will not automatically receive newsletters and other association information.

John Ride - Treasurer

Special Request from Michael Meszaros

I have a booking to showcase my 50 years as a sculptor as a show again. It was cancelled last year. Unfortunately, I need to beg, borrow or steal some pedestals as the venue has none of its own.

Could anybody with pedestals which they don't need for the two months of May and June and are willing to lend to me to let me know. I can discuss what sizes they have with respondents or I can list the sizes I need.
My email is meszaros.sculptor@gmail.com and phone is: 0407837538

Thanks,

Michael Meszaros 

Artists' News

Congratulations to Marynes.

“I'm currently a finalist at the 2022 Yarra Valley Arts/Yering Station Sculpture Award & Exhibition and I am one of the eight artists selected for the Lorne Sculpture Biennale 2022 SculptureScape Award. I will also hold a solo exhibition titled 'Oasis' during the month of April as the first outcome of a two-year artist residency at BHCAC.”

Marynes Avila

AND.. from Mim Kocher.

“I hope you will find this interesting for the next newsletter. The Yering Station sculpture exhibition & Awards is on now, with the official opening day being Sunday, 27th February 2022 at 1pm. It will be held in the historic barn there and being the 20th exhibition will be a wonderful celebration. Sculptor Savaad Felich started this exhibition and for 15 years was the Exhibition Coordinator and Curator. Dr Ewen Jarvis is now in that position and has been since Savaad retired.

This year there are 59 finalists, including ASV members Mim Kocher, Graeme Hardidge and Jenny Reddin and perhaps others whom I don’t know.

The indoor exhibition ends on 3rd April and the outdoor one on 25th April. It’s a stunning exhibition. Thanks, Cheers” Mim Kocher 

From Bruce Webb

“Congratulations to Andre Sardone, who has an exhibition at the VAS. I saw the show on Sunday.I thought the sculptures were quirky and imaginative, but thoughtful, I was made to look twice and contemplate why. Andre also had an open studio all weekend in Bendigo. What a busy fellow.”