Sculptures in the Garden 2021 - Update for artists

Amber Norton-Knight August 19, 2021

To our dear community of artists,

As 2021 unfolds we feel almost as stunned as we did last year. We sincerely hope you are all keeping safe and well and most importantly sane during these incredibly challenging times.

As you’re probably all aware, the entry deadline for Sculptures in the Garden 2021 submissions is this Friday. Due to the uncertainty around lockdown we have decided to extend the call for works until midnight on Tuesday 31st of August.

We'd like to remind everyone of the entry criteria. All submissions for Sculptures in the Garden 2021 must be;

Professionally finished for public exhibition. Any work that is not fit for exhibition will be rejected on viewing.
Be priced to sell.
Be the original work of the submitting artist and cannot be listed in any other exhibition catalogue in the lead up to or during Sculptures in the Garden. This includes online exhibitions.

It is difficult to know what the situation will look like come October. If the spread of covid-19 continues to persist throughout September, we may not be able to proceed with the event as currently planned. However, we want to let you know that we are developing a plan to host SIG 2021 in due course. It is likely the event will be extended for a prolonged period to facilitate greater flexibility in regard to delivery, installation and visitation. We'll work with each individual artist to ensure they can exhibit their work in what may become an evolving exhibition over an extended duration. The selection panel will still judge all works and award the acquisition prizes accordingly.

Our decisions moving forward will be firmly based on advice from NSW Health to ensure we proceed in a safe way. We can only control so much, but we will endeavour to provide an exhibition for you to showcase and sell your work after the months you have dedicated to it. We will remain flexible and keep you updated as we have a clearer idea of the details.

If we are forced to cancel the 2021 event entirely we will happily refund the $30 artist entry fee.

Now, for some brighter news! The Buchanan Artistic Merit Acquisition Prize has been confirmed, with the winning acquisition to be positioned in the grounds of the Mudgee Hospital. This will be a wonderful achievement for the successful artist who will receive $5,000 and have their sculpture permanently displayed for the public to enjoy. Eligible sculptures for this prize must be 80cm or less in size in any direction and be free standing.

A huge thank you to everyone who has submitted their entries to date – we are beyond impressed with the quality of submissions. For those who haven't submitted, please do! You now have until midnight on Tuesday 31st of August.

With warm regards and thanks,
Kay Norton-Knight

Sculptures in the Garden Artistic Director
PO Box 3, Mudgee 2850
0428 635 993
E: kay@rosby.com.au
W: www.sculpturesinthegarden.com.au

A CELEBRATION OF ART IN THE CENTRAL WEST

Amber Norton-Knight August 9, 2021

The brand-new Mudgee Arts Precinct opened to the public on Saturday, August 7.

The precinct is set to become the home of the arts for the Mid-Western region. It will offer a community workspace for artists with resources and facilities to foster art, creative and cultural education. In addition to a state-of-the-art, purpose-built gallery space to host exhibitions, these facilities will nurture the existing arts community in the Central West and encourage a new generation of emerging artists.

ANNOUNCING THE SELECTION PANEL FOR SIG 2021

Amber Norton-Knight July 14, 2021

The selection panel for Sculptures in the Garden 2021 has been announced…

A GIFT OF ART TO THE REGION - THE LEGACY OF THE LAWSON PARK SCULPTURE WALK

Amber Norton-Knight June 16, 2021

Any visitor who has ever been to Mudgee, and most definitely any local knows that the Lawson Park Sculpture Walk is one of the star attractions in this beautiful region that we’re so lucky to call home.

Lawson Park is a beautiful, tranquil and peaceful setting along the banks of the Cudgegong River that showcases winning artworks from the Sculptures in the Garden (SIG) annual exhibition.

The sculpture walk came to be after Sculptures in the Garden founder, Kay Norton-Knight, along with the exhibition committee, proposed the idea to the Mid-Western Regional Council (MWRC) who deemed it a worthy and important asset for the local community.

Mudgee Support Group for Guide Dogs NSW/ACT with Karen Hayter fromGuide Dogs NSW/ACT and puppies!

SIG and Guide Dogs NSW/ACT. A partnership from the very beginning.

Amber Norton-Knight May 5, 2021

Guide Dogs NSW/ACT have been involved with Sculptures in the Garden since the beginning and in that time over $160,000 has been raised for the organisation.

Guide Dogs have a committee of roughly 30 members with half of their team volunteering to be a part of the sculpture event each year. The volunteers are an enormous support to the event and SIG couldn’t take place without them. The volunteers run the food tent making delicious salads, sandwiches, bacon and egg rolls and sausage sandwiches to feed all of the hungry visitors. They also man the gate collecting donation entry fees, run raffles and supervise parking. They are also very persuasive when asking their husbands, partners and friends to lend a hand over the weekend. With so many jobs to be done, it takes quite a few hands to ensure it all runs as smoothly as it does.

Sculptures in the Garden AUGUST 2020 Update for Artists

Amber Norton-Knight August 20, 2020

We are most definitely proceeding with the event and will have a lot to celebrate come October 10th. We are forging ahead for our 10th anniversary year and have put in place plans to ensure that we are meeting all health and safety requirements in relation to COVID-19.

Sculptures in the Garden MAY 2020 Update

Amber Norton-Knight May 2, 2020

We wanted to check in with you all to see how you’re faring during this incredibly difficult time and to assure you that the Sculptures in the Garden Committee are still forging ahead for 2020 in preparation for our milestone 10th-anniversary event. I think we can all agree that during these challenging times, we need, more than ever before, something to look forward too and so we are hoping that SIG 2020 can be the light at the end of the tunnel for us all.

SUNDAY SESSION with ANNABELLE HICKSON at SIG

Amber Norton-Knight September 4, 2019

After the success of last year’s author talk with Wendy Whiteley and Janet Hawley, Sculptures in the Garden is excited to announce that at 11am on the Sunday of this year’s event, author and photographer, Annabelle Hickson will be hosting a talk about her new book, ‘A Tree in The House’ and signing copies on the day.

INSTALLATION OF SIG 2018 ACQUISITIONS

Amber Norton-Knight August 7, 2019

We are very excited to announce that Sculptures in the Garden 2018 acquisition winner’s work has now been installed as part of the Lawson Park sculpture walk.