Letter from the President

Newsletter editor's quote for the month:

"To make sculpture can be as basic as this: you need a love of making things ... and when you have made work for a long time you can't just throw it together ... When you know how to do something properly, like playing a musical instrument - whatever it happens to be - you can't do it badly, you would be untrue to yourself ..." Geoffrey Bartlett

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Spring at Mont De Lancey

Spring is definitely here and new blossoms and buds are everywhere. We have passed the equinox and here come the longer days.

The ASV committee has been busy working towards future exhibitions:

The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show dates are as follows:

• Entries Close- 4th of March 2024
• Opening and presentations 20th of March 2024
• MIFGS 20th of March to the 24th of March 2024

Before MIFGS 2024 we would expect to have the Herring Island Summer Arts Festival with the ASV participation mid January to early February. In 2024 the ASV will not be taking part in HISAF. Parks Victoria, (who have been dealing with the Contemporary Art Society rather than directly with the ASV), appear to be requiring extremely high contributions for groups participating in exhibitions on the Island. Basically we cannot afford the expense and the uncertainty at this late stage. I am really sad about this - I’ve worked on exhibitions on the island for twenty years - such is life. However, the good news is that McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery have come to the rescue with an amazingly better offer.

McClelland Gallery seen from the grounds

This is a first for the McClelland Gallery: 

• We will run a ten day exhibition in the Sarah and Baillieu Myer Pavilion from 17 January to 28 January 2024. The gallery is open Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm.

• All work will be for sale. I estimate around 65 works could be placed in the gallery

• This will be a selected exhibition, however, since the invitation came to us after McClelland Gallery had seen our Annual Exhibition 2022 and 2023 and Herring Island 2023, I do not foresee a great number of rejections. Because of the selection process THERE WILL BE NO LATE ENTRIES

• McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery is a really prestigious venue and access to the pavilion is easy - on grade from the car park to the external doors of the pavilion. 

• The ASV team will set up the exhibition; staff the exhibition; handle sales; we will produce all catalogues, invitations etc. in consultation with McClelland and we will pool our resources for social media.

view of the grounds from McClelland Gallery

Entry information, entry forms etc. will be available soon. If you would like to assist contact Jenny Rickards 0418 971 897.

Likewise anyone interested in facilitating the 2024 exhibition at Tesselaar Tulip Festival please contact John Bishop john@bishop.net.au

In the meantime - prepare outdoors work for MIFGS and consider your gems of indoor work for the Summer Exhibition in the Pavilion at the McClelland Gallery.

Happy sculpting

Jenny Rickards president