Sir Anthony Caro OM, erl king, Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2010.
Photo Matthew Stanton.

Awards Announced at Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2011 Opening Night Party

05-Nov-2011

Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi announced the award recipients for the exhibition on Friday 4 November 2011 at the opening party held at the Swiss Grand, Bondi Beach.

The recipients were chosen by a judging panel comprising of senior art figures Geoff Hassall, Collector; Terence Maloon, Former Senior Curator, Special Exhibition, Art Gallery of NSW; and Ann Thomson, Artist.

The Sydney Water and Environment Prize of $10,000 was awarded to Loftus artist Simon McGrath for his giant sculpture of a set of taps entitled who left the tap running? Simon completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1997, with a major in painting, at the UNSW, College of Fine Arts. He has been selected for the Mosman Art Prize in 2008 and 2010, the Directors Cut for the Blake Prize in 2010, the Sydney Life Photography Prize 2008, and the Waverley Art Prize 2010.

The Waverley Council Mayor's prize of $5,000 was awarded to Walcha artist James Rogers for his work hokusai's child. James is a senior Australian sculptor and was this year admitted into Sculpture by the Sea's Decade Club for artists who have exhibited at Bondi for 10 years or more. James has been exhibiting since 1980, participating in over 80 solo and group exhibitions throughout his career.

The Andrea Stretton Memorial Invitation to Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe in March 2012 was awarded to NSW artist Margarita Sampson for her work the yearning. The little yellow sea slugs made from recycled banners are currently dotting the rocks between Bondi Icebergs and Mark's Park. Margarita has exhibited at Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi six times previously since 1997 and was awarded the People's Choice Prize in 1998.

The Art Gallery Society of NSW prize of $5,000, donated by the Art Gallery of NSW, as chosen by Edmund Capon, Director of AGNSW was awarded to Sydney artist Linda Bowden for her sculpture descending the mountain. Born in Zimbabwe, Linda migrated to Australia in 1974. She graduated from the National Art School with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Sculpture) in 1999, and since then has participated in numerous group shows. In 2002 Linda received the Waverley Council Prize at Sculpture by the Sea, and in 2003 was commissioned to make the Private Patrons' Series for Sculpture by the Sea. Linda was awarded a UNESCO and Four Winds Atelier funded scholarship to travel to Provence, France where she had her first solo show.

The Damon Courtenay Memorial Young Sculptor Prize of $5000, for an artist 29 years or under, donated by Bryce, Adam and Brett Courtenay was awarded to a Sydney based collective of artists, Tread Collective, for their work tortoise. Mark Swartz, Ruben Salomon and Charmaine Tung formed the collective in 2009 to create a gorilla from car tyres for the Newtown 'Reclaim the Lanes' street festival. The three artists, all in their early twenties, enjoy sourcing recycled materials to create their artworks. Their work for Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2011 is a large tortoise made from recycled tyres, which sits on the sand at Tamarama Beach.

The Sculpture Inside Curators Prize of $2, 500 was awarded to Walcha artist Stephen King for his work horse and rider, which is currently on show in the indoor exhibition of over 150 small, wall and free standing sculptures by this year's selected and invited Sculpture by the Sea exhibiting artists. This is Stephen's 14th year exhibiting with Sculpture by the Sea, including a work in the very first exhibition in 1997. Stephen completed postgraduate studies at St Martin's School of Art in London in 1981 and has since exhibited in 13 solo exhibitions. His work has been included in international and national collections including Parliament House, Canberra.

Hunter Valley artist Paul Selwood was announced at this year's launch, on Thursday 3 November, as the winner of Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2011 and recipient of The Balnaves Foundation Sculpture Prize of $65, 000. Selwood's large painted green steel sculpture is truly 3D in form, changing from every angle it is observed from, creating a dynamic experience for the viewer. Selwood began making sculpture in 1964 after he enrolled at East Sydney Technical College. He was Technical Assistant at the Royal College of Art, England from 1965-8 and worked for Sir Anthony Caro, one of the world's most influential sculptors and an Invited Artist at this year's exhibition. Since returning to Australia in 1971 Paul has had over twenty-six solo exhibitions and has been included in numerous Group Exhibitions. He was lecturer in charge of sculpture at USQ 1977-82 and Lecturer in sculpture at Newcastle University 1986-96. He is included in many public collections including the Art Gallery of NSW.

Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2011, the world's largest free-to-the-public outdoor sculpture exhibition, runs until 20 November on the stunning Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk. Each year the exhibition attracts approximately half a million people to see the works of over 100 Australian and international artists along the coastline.

Sculpture by the Sea is an international series of exhibitions at Cottesloe Beach in Perth, Western Australia from 1 to 19 March 2012 and in the beautiful city of Aarhus in Denmark in June 2013.

For further information contact:
NIX Co
Phone: + 61 2 8399 0626
Email: info@nixco.com.au

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