There’s nothing quite like a good sculpture. The aesthetic, the appeal is unique.
Fans of this lovely art form are in for a genuine treat if they visit Woollahra Council’s current Small Sculpture exhibition. There is so much good work to see, sculpted and cultivated in so many different styles.
The exhibition, presented in a room in the harbourside rear section of the Council’s chambers , features the work of all 46 finalists, selected from some 614 entries.
This years’ judging panel comprised three judges – Wendy Whitely OAM, Ambassador for the Visual Arts, Rhonda Davis, Senior Curator at the Macquarie University Art Gallery, and Barry Keldoulis, CEO and Group Fairs Director of Art Fairs Australia.
This trio of judges awarded this years’ prize to very experienced sculptor Todd Robinson for his work Psychic Staircase, which is part of a series of works featuring balloons that droop and slump as the force of gravity appears to bear down on them. Mr Robinson received a cheque for $15,000 in a late afternoon function held late Friday afternoon marking the opening of the exhibition.
Certainly a fine, thought provoking work, as indeed many of the works were. The exhibition features a Viewers’ Choice award with attendees being invited to vote at the time or at a later time online.
My ‘picks’ from the exhibition were Stephen Bird’s Saturn Eating A Man’s Leg ( winner of the Special Commendation Award ($1,000), Emma Coulter’s Construction #7 (Shifting Test Patterns), Owen Leong’s Force Field (Amygdala), Julie Rapp’s One Hand Making The Other Hand (Instrumental Series), and Peter Zappa’s Alberto’s Bike.
Now it’s your turn! This free exhibition of the finalist’s works for this the 16th year of the Small Sculpture Prize is available for viewing at the Council’s Chambers until 30 October. Viewing times are weekdays between 9 am and 5 pm, and weekends between 10 am and 4 pm.
All sculptures are available for sale with the exception of Robinson’s winning work which has been acquired by Woollahra Council to add to its collection.
ARTISTS WITH THEIR WORK
All images by Ben Apfelbaum (c).
http://sculptureprize.woollahra.nsw.gov.au.