The winners of the 2018 Sculpture in the Gaol competition were announced on the weekend.
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Prizes amounting to the value of $3,000 were awarded to winners in numerous categories of sculpture, photography and group installations, reflecting the broad range of submissions to this year’s Sculpture in the Gaol exhibition.
The winning artworks were once again chosen by popular vote by the viewers and announced at the Seabreeze Beach Hotel on Saturday, September 1.
The winners are, in the large sculpture section:
Winner was Kat Atkins ‘Rhythm Hunters’. Runner up was Sam Hawkins with ‘Seahorse’.
Large sculpture category winner Kat Aktins said it was the first time she had created work for a sculpture exhibition.
“I needed some mannequins to display the couture jewellery pieces I design and wanted something artistic, bold and beautiful with a touch of character, just like my jewellery,” Kat said.
“I couldn’t find anything suitable in the market so I resolved to create my own mannequins using natural and recycled materials collected along the mid north coast’s beaches. ‘Rhythm Hunters’ evolved from my original plan for a couple of mannequins, doubled in size, grew wings and became an entire work of art!”
The small sculpture category was taken out by Sam Hawkins for his piece ‘Starving Eagle’.
Sam’s sculpture practice has taken on new vigour since he began entering works for Sculpture in the Gaol a couple of years ago.
“I’ve also been working with the kids at my local Willawarrin Public School to help them design and build their group installations,” Sam said.
One of the school’s works, titled ‘Enjoy Nature. Recycle’ took out the Primary School category first prize.
Runner up in the small sculpture category was Alf Blakey with ‘Cookie’.
Highly commended awards went to:
John Wilby, Glen Ravo, Eric Hull’s body of work (multiple entries each)
Gavin Skinner ‘Game of Drones’
Lisa Domeny ‘Trial Bay’
Robyn Hull ‘Daisy Chain’
Colin Visser ‘Flight’ and ‘Fright’
Winners in the preschool, primary and high school categories were:
All three preschools including SWR Pre-school ‘Little Bird Little Bird, Tell Me About The Ocean’, Dalaigur Pre-school ‘Nganhang Nyinda (You Me) Canoes’ and Schools as Community Centres Playgroup ‘Therapy Quilts’.
Primary School Sculpture Winner was Willawarrin Public School ‘Enjoy Nature Recycle’ with assistance from Sam Hawkins. Runner up was South Kempsey Public School ‘A Family of Birds’ and Highly Commended went to South West Rocks Public School ‘Bruno Robo’ and Highly Commended for heritage theme went to Gladstone Public School’s body of work and Willawarrin Public School ‘A celebration of freedom after Internment’ and South West Rocks Joey Scouts ‘Germans by the Sea’.
High School Sculpture winner was Kempsey High School ‘Hana’s Suitcase’ and ‘Animal Yarns’ Runner up was Kempsey High School ‘Arachnid Invasion’ and Individual Sculpture award went to Mekenzie Healey from St Pauls for ‘To Survive’ ceramic.
High School Photographic group winners were Melville High School Yr 7-12 and Runner up was Kempsey High School Yr 9, with Highly Commended going to Areerat Brooks ‘Ghosts of the Past’ (KHS student independent entry).
Kempsey Shire Councillor Mark Baxter was on hand to award prizes to artists chosen by public vote at the closing ceremony held at Seabreeze Beach Hotel. Prizes and commendations recognised at least 24 works and artists, including the 200 community members who contributed to West Kempsey’s Dalaigur Pre-school’s installation ‘King of the Birds’.
Around 5,000 visitors were recorded at Trial Bay Gaol during the month-long exhibition, with at least 1,500 attending the popular opening gala coordinated by South West Rocks Chamber of Commerce in early August.
Sculpture in the Gaol is hosted by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. See all results @sculptureinthegaol on Instagram.
