President's Letter and Editor's Quote

“Art is not a thing; it is a way.” Elbert Hubbard

Sadly this last month we have lost two sculptors - our own, dear Eva Ermer and Bruce Armstrong… the sculptor of “Bunjil” on Wurundjeri Way. Condolences to all experiencing loss. Obituary notes are later in the newsletter.

But as we know - the world rolls along.

So have you put in your entry for Toorak? Are you in the final stages of preparing an entry for our Annual and Awards Exhibition? Choosing which exhibitions to enter is part of the business of being an artist. Deciding on when, where and how to run an exhibition is what we do as an Association. At our committee meeting last Thursday - four people online and five by the fire at my place - we congratulated Paul on the record success of the MIFGS exhibition and then moved on to the planning, plotting and principles of our program for the rest of the year.

Dates for Your Diary

8th May

Talk by Darren Gilbert
7:30 Camberwell Community Centre, Fairholm Grove Camberwell and online - a link will be sent prior to the meeting

13 May close of entries

Annual & Awards Exhibition

1. Download information and conditions of entry
2. Fill in the entry form
3. Pay your entry fees

13 June to 1 July

Annual & Awards Exhibition at VAS galleries 430 Albert St East Melbourne

18 July

Committee Meeting 7:30 at Jenny Rickards' home

Meet & Greet

If you would like to host a Meet & Greet afternoon or evening, please contact me. It could have an artistic base, or a social or an informative session.

Vale Bruce Armstrong

Mark Holsworth’s article on 5th April was the first acknowledgement that I saw of Bruce Armstrong’s passing. Mark’s article of course has an image of Bunjil on Wurundjeri Way so do take time to check his much more complete obituary.

The ASV was witness to Bruce’s career in sculpture:

He won a second place in the (ASV run) 1985 Shell Australia Acquisitive Sculpture Prize in the Westpac Gallery - Victorian Arts Centre. Judges for the prize were Patrick McCaughey, Ken Scarlett and Michael Meszaros as current ASV President. Bruce’s work was a rough hewn fish in his characteristic style.

Bruce spoke at our AGM in 2015 and we visited his studio in March of 2016.

Vale Eva Ermer

VALE Eva Ermer

Written by Susie Ashkenazi

Remembering Eva Ermer (1936-2024)

Eva (left) and I at Gasworks Art Park 
Photo: Robert Bonchek

“I mourn the passing of my dear friend and sculpture mentor Eva Ermer at 87 years, in March 2024. A long-standing member of the Association, her love of art was sparked when she lived in Paris at the end of World War II after fleeing Nazi Poland. A resilient, sophisticated and vibrant person, Eva continued producing sculptures right up to the end of last year. She had a curious mind, always searching for new inspiration to sculpt. I fondly recall how we especially enjoyed attending life classes, which led to the creation of her many beautiful nudes. Working mostly in bronze, Eva’s figurative works and imaginative abstracts will be a lasting legacy of her skills, talent and passion. Her works are still available through the ASV website."

Susie Ashkenazi

Eva’s widower George has three plinths to give away. For further information, please call him on 0412 335 400.
https://sculptorsvictoria.asn.au/sculptors/profile/eva-ermer

Social Media

Aukje, our ASV social media guru, has found some very good you tube videos about how to stage lighting for your statues. 

For the Annual exhibition we will have only very limited photography. Sculptors are expected to provide semi professional photography. 

This is not very hard, now we all have access to smart phones with good cameras, and it’s not very expensive eithe r- if you want to buy equipment. *(eBay) 

Very important is how you light your sculpture before you take a photo. 

Interesting Art, Interesting Opportunities

Sculpture Bermagui is pleased to announce a new initiative for 2024 - the Artist in Residency Program:
Over three months at Narra Bukulla, a private property with a large studio located near Mimosa Rocks National Park on the NSW South Coast, participating artists will be given the opportunity to work in a peaceful natural space.

READ MORE: Residency 2024 – Sculpture Bermagui

There were many ASV sculptors who exhibited in this show. Here is a review of this year’s art. Sculpture Bermagui

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Have you heard about Sculptures Out Back 2024?

Members' News and New Members

MEMBERS’ NEWS

Visit to NGV to see the Triennial - The displays were spectacular.

 
Please email me to share your artistic endeavours by the third week of the month so I can include it in the newsletter. I try to have the newsletter sent out by the weekend before the end of the month.