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Sculpture Prize 2009

EXHIBITION DATES

Saturday 26 September – Sunday 5 October 2009

The Incinerator, 2 Small Street, Willoughby

WINNERS

Major Prize

Winner: Julie Collins and Derek John, Ships of Redemption

Highly commended: Jonathan Leahey, Swarf

Willoughby Residents Award

Winner: Ingrid Morley, Winds of Tiananmen

Highly commended: Edward Shimada, The Last Concert

Commended: Meike Davis, Form No. I

Encouragement Award

Winner: Amanda Stuart, Alpha Mythologies

Highly commended: Helen Pynor, Exhale

Site Specific Award

Winner: Geoff Farquhar-Still, Reverberation

People's Choice Award

Winner: Helen Pynor, Exhale

CATALOGUE

Download a catalogue of all selected works - Willoughby Sculpture Prize Catalogue - 4,531 KB

PUBLIC PROGRAM

Throughout the opening day and exhibition, a number of aritist talks, tours and other activities will take place. Download the program - Willoughby Sculpture Prize - Public Program - 136 KB

About the Willoughby Sculpture Prize

The Willoughby Sculpture Prize is a major cultural event in the Spring Festival program and is sponsored by Willoughby City Council and local businesses. It reflects Council’s ongoing commitment to develop and celebrate visual arts in our community.

In 2008 artists from across Australia were invited to respond to the theme rethink reduce reuse recycle. 188 sculptures were entered and 48 selected by a panel of art professionals, providing a rare opportunity for artists to exhibit works inside the heritage listed Incinerator at 2 Small Street Willoughby and throughout the surrounding parklands.

The Incinerator was designed in 1934 by Walter Burley Griffin and Eric Nicholls and is one of only three of its kind remaining in New South Wales. It is currently being refurbished to be returned to the community in 2010 as an art space, artist studios and cafe.

The 2009 theme was developed in response to the history of the site and in consultation with Council and the Sustainability Charter, adopted in 2008. It is designed to generate cultural activity and foster discussion on current environmental and sculptural practices.

Of the 48 selected sculptures, 28 will be exhibited across the three levels of the Incinerator and 20 works will be located throughout the surrounding parklands, transforming the Willoughby landscape.

The exhibition runs from Saturday 26 September to Monday 5 October 2009 and is a highlight of the Willoughby Spring Festival program. The opening day will host a range art activities and a series of public programs and artists talks will be held throughout the exhibition.

Also on display will be two unique site specific installations which engage directly with the location and history of the site.

Community Art Project

The community art project is a collaboration between local artist Carole Driver and students from Mercy Catholic College developed over a four month period at the end of 2008. It consists of twenty large scale dragonflies constructed from from tin cans, supermarket and dry cleaner plastic bags, and household paint. This project aims to promote waste avoidance, reuse and recycling.

Site Specific Project

The site specific category winner was Canberra Sculptor and Landscape Architect Geoff Farquhar-Still for his three part installation Reverberation. This project was selected from a range of entries as it best responds to and encapsulates the location, history and significance of the site as both an iconic Walter Burley Griffin building and an Incinerator. It will be located inside the Incinerator in a darkened room and consists of a retro reflective mural, the word ‘Reverberation’ resonating within the space and a sound piece linking the two contrasting yet connected images.

The Willoughby Sculpture Prize has received generous support from the major prize sponsors Shead First National Real Estate and Willoughby City Council. Other category sponsors are Chatswood Chase and Chatswood Toyota.

NEWSLETTERS

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SITE SPECIFIC PROJECT

Geoff Farquhar-Still received $5,000 for a three part installation Reverberation. The award is proudly sponsored by Council’s e.restore program.

2009 SELECTION PANEL

Anne Ferguson - Artist
Nick Vickers - Curator, Delmar Gallery
Monica McMahon - Art Curator, University of Western Sydney Art Collection

SELECTED ARTISTS

See a list of works which have been selected for entry into the Willoughby Sculpture Prize: Selected Artists

ENQUIRIES

Contact: Alison Clark, Exhibition Manager and Site Curator
Email: culture@willoughby.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 9777 1000

SPONSORS

Major Sponsors