All the Winners...

JUDGING RESULTS SCULPTURE
MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FLOWER AND GARDEN SHOW 2015

On the evening if 25th March, Judge Gael O'Leary announced the prizes in the three sections of the sculpture exhibition at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show 2015. Congratulations to all the winners - and the all the sculptors contributing work to this show - a great achievement!

Section 1 CARVED WORK (ANY MEDIUM)

1ST PRIZE ($1,000) No. 24 Polished Flower (Gavin Roberts)

Polished Flower (Gavin Roberts)

2nd PRIZE ($250) No. 2 Bloom # 4 (John Bishop)



Bloom #4 (John Bishop)



HIGHLY COMMENDED No. 7 Rhythmic Flow (Betty Collier)



 

Rhythmic Flow (Betty Collier)



Section 2 FORMED WORK (MOULDINGS, CERAMICS, MOSAICS, CASTINGS ETC)

1ST PRIZE ($1,000) No. 42 Mosaic Turtle (Michelle Day)

Mosaic Turtle (Michelle Day)

 

2nd PRIZE ($250) No. 95 Rat Race (Todd Stuart)

Rat Race (Todd Stuart)

HIGHLY COMMENDED No. 51 Grace (Gillian Govan)

Grace (Gillian Govan)

Section 3 FABRICATIONS (FABRICATED AND ASSEMBLED WORK, INSTALLATIONS, WELDED STEEL, MIXED MEDIA)

1st PRIZE ($1,000) No. 99 Hunter (Damian Vick)

Hunter (Damian Vick)

2nd PRIZE ($250) No. 71 Embark (Damian Bateson)

Embank (Damian Bateson)

 

HIGHLY COMMENDED No. 75 Balancing Opposites (Mark Cowie)

Balancing Opposites (Mark Cowie)

Photography by Rob Anderson

Sculptors at the 2015 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show: Bronwyn Culshaw

BRONWYN CULSHAW

Queen of the Desert (limestone, glass mosaic)

After 40 years in the business world it was time for a change: Bronwyn studied limestone carving with Kevin Free; ceramic sculpture for several years with Klaus & Ingrid Dusselberg at Studio 32; sculpture at Viktor Kalinowsky’s Bronze Age Studio; life modelling with Andrea Baker and mould-making with Robin van Velsen. Highlights have been a three day workshop with Akio Takamura (visiting Japanese and New York sculptor) and a visit to France with a week in the 'Atelier' of Aldo Caradonna.

Her interest in art started as a child but sculpture started only in the last several years. She is primarily a sculptor of limestone, birds and nudes in particular, and has found that clay has liberated her and enabled her to escape to a world of fantasy - her “Alice in Wonderland” organic teapots evoke many a childhood memory and raise a bit of a chuckle.


Bronwyn is now putting her energies into mosaics particularly those covered in mosaic glass. She's also exploring the freedom of wire and cement fondue as a medium.

Chicky Babe (limestone, glass mosaic

Bronwyn has been a winner of the Manyung Prize at the 2005 Frankston International Guitar Festival Art Exhibition, and also a winner of the Northcote Pottery Prize for Best Ceramic work at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show Sculpture Exhibition 2006.

With Bron and husband Patrick's previous history in curating MIFGS exhibitions Bron's contribution towards our ASV PR campaign for the 2015 MIFGS Exhibition has been invaluable, including the rallying of our guest exhibitors who will be a real highlight this year - Thank you!

ASV SETTING UP AT MIFGS

Here is Julie Latimer, superb mosaic sculptor, installing her ASV MIFGS entry, 'Ball and Chain' - a reminder to watch your purchases as possessions can become larger than life and end up possessing you!! 

See these sculptures from Wednesday 25th March - Sunday 29th March in the Royal Exhibition Gardens in Carlton - Remember to vote for the People's Choice.

Sculptors at the 2015 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show: Lawrence Marshall

Marshall's interest in art began at a very early age but took many years to develop and fulfil his creative interest. Through his background in farming, practical solutions to problems led him to implementing several new inventions, for which he was awarded the prestigious Hugh McKay state award for innovation and contribution to agriculture in Victoria in 1994. He successfully invented and designed agricultural machinery and in 1992 & 1993 he won “Inventor of the Year” in Australia and New Zealand. He has always loved working with timber enjoying itʼs supple but strong contrasting qualities, implementing themes of form and all things “old”, he was able to work on several heritage boats to express those inner desires.

Aussie Mozzie

 The nature of animals and birds strongly appeals to him as subjects because of the contrasts they present - their strength and power coupled with their survival instincts and subtle ingenious mannerisms. Through carving, chiseling and welding he has sought to create and explore the fluid, spontaneous movement observed in animals and birds living on the land. Marshall hopes to further develop his skills, techniques and conceptual understanding to take creativity to “the next level”. He believes participation and ongoing involvement with other artists and sculptors is one way of achieving this! In processing his work through recycled timber and metal, such as springs, horse shoes, scarifier points, cutlery, etc, he uses the technique of mig welding to structure a strong skeleton to form the size and shape of the bird or animal to be sculptured.

Toad Stool Family

He then covers the frame with the chosen medium until it is completely covered, finishing it with an exterior lacquer-resistant oil to weather proof the item against rust and UV rays, giving the sculpture a natural look that blends into the rural landscape. Marshall continues to show in major exhibitions andgalleries of N.S.W and Victoria.

Sculptors at the 2015 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show: Todd Stuart with Colin Walangari Karntawarra McCormack

TODD STUART

Born in 1970 in Perth, Western Australia, Tod was greatly influenced by his father (a secondary school teacher in manual arts) and spent a lot of time in his workshop, experimenting & creating in many different mediums, which he has continued to do so. 

He has been recognised & awarded prizes for his work since the age of 11 for craftsmanship to several awards from the Furniture Industry Association Australia at 17, for best design innovation crafted for leather upholstery.  He completed his study of Industrial Design at Curtin University Perth Western Australia in 1992. Initially employed as creative designer at “ARTIFEX AUSTRALIA” he introduced new innovative ranges of upholstered commercial furniture. In 1994 Todd commenced his own business “FURNITURHAUS” which focused on creating & implementing bespoke furniture designs for some of the highest profile Interior designers, Architects & projects Australia wide. In 2005 Todd gained a substantial project in the Middle East that saw him set up a new business in Dubai. His success he determines is due to his being part of the sculpture process from conception to finalisation, worthy of his final signature.  A new business initiative has arisen in which Todd has been selected to join  “MAINARTERY STUDIO” - created to collectively support & assist the promotion of high calibre sculpture artworks.  

"Dreamtime" - a contemporary representation of Aboriginal spirituality, in images of family, bush tucker, bush medicines, water holes and campsites.

This beautiful work entered in the 2015 MIFGS Exhibition exemplifies the very exciting collaboration between Todd Stuart and renowned Aboriginal painter,

COLIN WALANGARI KARNTAWARRA McCormack  - in partnership with Todd Stuart, to create Aboriginal Sculpture.

Born in 1961, Walangari is an Australian Aboriginal elder from Alice Springs who now lives and works in Sydney. He is also a talented musician and dancer, teacher and public speaker; has Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees and an Associate Diploma of Aboriginal Education.

Walangari has held many executive positions and been the director of various Aboriginal councils:  chaired CAAMA (first Aboriginal owned radio station); was a director of the first Aboriginal television station, Imparja; is committed to improving the lot of his people and helping to ensure the voice of Aboriginal Australia is heard.  He is an international award winning 'Central Western Desert' painter and his colourful and spellbinding works tell the traditional Dreamtime Stories of the world’s oldest living culture, he regards his art as a means of cross-cultural communication ... It was the legacy of his famous 'great-grandfather’, Albert Namatjira and the inspiration of his 'grandfather’ Clifford Possum that encouraged him to paint. 

In 1995 he painted the first prize for the inaugural Indigenous Surfing Competition sponsored by Billabong and Coca Cola; his life and paintings have been featured in many TV programmes & publications, including the “International Artist” magazine.

The Australian Museum featured Walangari in the CD ROM that they produced as part of their Living Colour exhibition in March 2000 and in 2003 he was commissioned to paint a work for the Rugby World Cup Paris Exhibition. In the same year his work featured in the annual selling exhibition Art Paris in the Carrousel du Louvre.  The National Gallery of Australia has acquired one of his early works.

With Todd's sculptural expertise, he is finally realising his Dreamtime stories:  "Art for Aboriginal people is like our heartbeat and we must continue to be artistic or we will die spiritually and lose our souls".

Todd emphasises that the creative process itself is in-depth & consumes a considerable amount of resources, skill and time, nonetheless in his deep  appreciation of the nature of Walangari's Aboriginal stories, he has been able to emulate them through the timeless nature of the quality materials used in both works ...