Letter from the President

 Hello Sculptors,

It’s warmer now and spring has blessed our Port of Sale exhibition with sunshine and happy visitors. 

I must say - I love work - I could watch it all day! The planning and organising and pressure for Sale came together in a beautifully orchestrated effort. First the site induction and then the team sprang into action for the large outdoor works. Check the social media: Aukje recorded the arrival and installation of “Gypsy of the Deep” Sam Anderson’s whale shark. The WSC ground staff were a joy to witness.

In the gallery Yvonne and Aukje curated the work into a fine exhibition - and the space looked so full of light after last year’s effort of squeezing into the space remaining around the cloakroom for Archibald visitors.

The gallery sculpture space was curated by
Yvonne Monik and Aukje van Vark

Gavin also organised true festival activity - not only Carmel Ritchie and Chris Stubbs offering clay activities for children of all ages - but talented, local musicians performing pretty much non stop, tours of the botanic gardens sculpture trail - (you can’t miss it so we went half an hour's extra walk). 

The opening and prize presentation were a very polished affair. The atrium/sculpture gallery space was a leap in status from hiding from the rain in the undercroft car park last year. Our guest speaker Lisa Palma from Wildlife Victoria was both learned and passionate.

Congratulations to the prize winners: The winner of the $20,000 acquisitive prize for landscape sculpture was won by Paul Jesse with his work "Helix"; the winner of the $5000 acquisitive prize for wildlife art was won by Chris Stubbs with his work "Javan Rhinoceros" and the non acquisitive prize for a work depicting endangered species was won by Graham Hardidge for his Helmeted Honeyeater on a Branch.

The People's Choice Award votes have been tallied: Congratulations to Sam Anderson for his "Gypsy of the Deep"

Congratulations to everyone - Gavin Roberts in particular - for a superb exhibition and wonderful community networking. And thank you to our hosts the Wellington Shire Council and Gippsland Art Gallery on GunaiKurnai country.

And so onwards. We have our end of year gathering at Jude Bridges Tull’s place coming up and the entry forms for both Herring Island and MIFGS are on the website. The committee has a full program - I don’t know what sins they have committed to be so loaded with work but we will have the joy of accomplishment out of this! 

I’m wishing you all joy in your life and work and look forward to seeing both your work and yourselves at our gatherings and exhibitions.

Jenny Rickards