Fifteen Central Coast sculptors will exhibit in the outdoor art exhibition, Sculptures in the Garden, opening on November 6 in Mudgee including John Fitzmaurice of North Avoca and Emilia Krumm of Lisarow who will each have two works on show.
Krumm and fellow Coast artists, Lisa McArthur-Edwards and Therese Wilkins, will also exhibit a joint piece, The Conduit Collaboration.
Fitzmaurice works in a variety of mediums, with stainless steel being his favourite.
Inspired by natural forms and everyday objects, his works are transformed with abstraction and humour.
“My piece Splash is a homage to the curious giants of the sea that shine bright and illuminate the ocean with their annual playful migration,” he said.
His second piece, Encounter (Maquette) is a modern interpretation of a diving whale.
“This is the one-tenth scale maquette of the full-size sculpture that is now installed in the forecourt of the new Mudgee Regional Art Gallery,” Fitzmaurice said.
Krumm will be showing her work for the 11th year at the exhibition.
“I feel very fortunate to exhibit there – it is absolutely beautiful,” she said.
“The show used to be just over one weekend but last year they decided to extend it to two weeks.”
Krumm, who has experimented with painting, studied sculpting with Col Henry some 15 years and that has been her preferred artform ever since.
“When I started doing sculpture I felt far more passionate,” she said.
“I mostly like to work in reinforced resin, which surfboards are made of, as you can make forms out of it rather than chip away as you would with sandstone or limestone, although I do use other materials as well.”
Krumm’s first piece is Buella, a sculpture in bronze, sandstone and granite.
“I really love the female form and feature it a great deal – particularly bathing beauties,” she said.
“This one is suspended on a piece of sandstone.
“It’s all about poise and is symbolic of a woman enjoying life, happy and content.
Her second piece, Foglie d’autunno, is of reinforced resin.
“I was born in South Africa to Italian parents and this is the Italian term for autumn leaves,” she said.
“I am trying to capture what you see when you lie under a tree and see shadows coning through the leaves.”
Other Central Coast artists to feature in the exhibition are Rhonda Castle of Wyong, Miriam Cullen of The Entrance North, Christopher Diaz of North Gosford, Mark Joyce of Woy Woy, John Lynch of Lisarow, Gill McLaren of Holgate, Myles Naylor of West Gosford, Kenneth Smith of Ravensdale, Willemina Villari of Avoca Beach, Kim Vredeveld of Horsfield Bay, Peter Waples of Green Point and Brendon Webb of Berkeley Vale.
More than 280 sculptures will be on show by artists from across Australia, all of which are in the running for several acquisition and non-acquisition prizes.
The total prize value for 2021 is over $40,000 and includes a top prize of $25,000.
Visitors who attend the event can expect live music on weekends from folk-rock musician, Matt Boylan Smith; artisan picnic boxes by Mudgee locals, Blue Wren Farm; barista made coffee by Workin’ Beans; and premium wines from the Rosby Wine Bar.
Weekend ticket sale proceeds will go directly to the Mudgee Support Group for Guide Dogs NSW/ACT.
The partnership has raised over $175,000 for the charity over the last decade and on weekdays the Support Group will have food, tea and coffee for sale as a fundraiser.
The exhibition format has been updated to comply with the advice from NSW Health, with capacity limits to be enforced, masks mandatory for all staff, and proof of double vaccination required for staff, volunteers, artists, and attendees over the course of the two-week event.
The exhibition will be open from 10am-4pm every day from November 6-21.
For more details and ticket information go to https://www.sculpturesinthegarden.com.au.
Terry Collins