Sculpture in the Garden raises over $20,000 for Guide Dogs in 'best year yet'

Organisers of Sculptures in the Garden have called this year’s event on October 11 and 12 their “best year yet”. 

Amber Norton-Knight from Rosby Wines said  more than 2300 visitors walk through the gates over the weekend, and more than 50 per cent of the sculptures went home with new owners – including three headed for public places around the Mid-Western region, thanks to Council. 

The total amount raised over the two days for Guide Dogs NSW/ACT was over $20,000. 

“The Mudgee Support Group for Guide Dogs volunteers worked hard over the two days to raise this figure through entry fees, raffles and catering,” Ms Norton-Knight said. 

“Guide Dogs NSW/ACT will also get a share of the commission from the sale of sculptures, and the Sculptures in the Garden Committee hope to announce this final figure in the coming weeks.” 

An addition to the annual public art event, a new feature, the Children’s Labyrinth was very popular with the children and was a great space to display the many entries the committee received from younger local artists.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore found it very hard to judge children’s entries and after much deliberation awarded prizes to several budding young artists and classes. 

Prize winners were: 

Preschool Category

Winners -  Mudgee Preschool - Creatures from the Garden; Highly commended - Mudgee Preschool, Owls. 

Infants Category

Winners - Mudgee Public School KB - Where the Wild Sticks Are; Highly commended - Mudgee Public School KS, Ouch!

Primary Category

Winners - Hargraves Public School - Fish Garden;  Highly commended - Lue Public School, Blue Chooks; Highly commended - St Matthew’s Yr 5, Local Connections

High School Category

Winners -  Kandos High School Yr 7, Janus Faces;  Highly commended - Helena Shearman, New Beginnings. 

Kay and Gerald Norton-Knight thank the Mid-Western Regional Council and Moolarben Coal for their support for the event and the Sculptures in the Garden Committee for their hard work and ongoing commitment to the event.

SCULPTURES IN THE GARDEN 2014

For immediate release                                                                                                  September 2014

MEDIA RELEASE

SCULPTURES IN THE GARDEN 2014

Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, will open a Mudgee outdoor art exhibition in October that has become one of the largest across NSW.

Amber Norton-Knight, event organiser, says that Ms Moore’s interest in the event is flattering.

“This is the fourth Sculptures in the Garden event and the second time we’ve been honoured with Clover Moore’s attendance,” Ms Norton-Knight said.

Sculptures in the Garden is an annual sculpture exhibition in the garden of Mudgee winery, Rosby. This year the event will be held from 9am – 4pm on 11-12 October.

“Like our local community, Clover Moore is a big supporter of public art. While the City of Sydney is doing it on a bigger scale, there is certainly a similar public art movement in Mudgee.

“There have been significant developments in the last year, with two sculptures from the 2013 exhibition now installed in Mudgee’s Lawson Park.

“Like the City of Sydney, our Council is continuing to invest in public art for the region. Council matches the contribution made by Sculptures in the Garden to purchase sculptures to be put on public display.

“This year, a committee will have $12,000 to acquire work from the exhibition. This is a huge bonus to exhibiting artists as well as the local community,” Ms Norton-Knight said. 

Clover Moore says the event has great appeal for Sydney-siders.

“Sculptures in the Garden is a fantastic event with great cultural merit. It is clearly becoming a flagship exhibition and is a very valuable promotion of public art.

“Public art, like great architecture, can make a place memorable. It can shape a town or city’s image and make empty spaces exciting, engaging and unique.”

Sculptures in the Garden event attracted 250 sculptures, by 80 different artists, displayed creatively around the garden at “Rosby”, home of Kay and Gerald Norton-Knight. Sculpture prices ranged from $20 to $20,000. Over 100 sculptures were sold for a total of almost $60,000, and the proceeds from the weekend exhibition go to the Mudgee Support Group of Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and a local arts initiative to develop a sculpture walk in Mudgee’s Lawson Park.

All event details are online at www.sculpturesinthegarden.com.au. 

 

EVENT FACT SHEET

Date                  11th & 12th October 2014
Time                  9am - 4pm, both days
Location            Rosby, 122 Strikes Lane, Eurunderee, Mudgee
Entry fee            $5, children free

For further interview opportunities, high-res photos or other media requests, call Amber Norton-Knight on 0414 942 917 or email amber@rosby.com.au.