Some of Australia’s most highly awarded and popular sculptors will share their work at the upcoming Sculpture at Sawmillers, held on Sydney Harbour’s stunning northern foreshore from 19-27 February. The exhibition will be officially opened on Saturday 19 February at 3pm by the Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency The Hon Margaret Beazley, AC QC. (Featured image: Simon Hodgson, ‘Melencolia‘).
Fifty-eight exhibitors have been chosen from over 100 entries and will include Award winning artists such as Michael Le Grand, Rob Robertson Swann and David Horton (all previous winners of Sculpture by the Sea), James Rogers and Paul & Hui Selwood (previous winners of Sculpture at Sawmillers), local Mosman artists Stephen Coburn and Jon Crothers, and Kirribilli sculptor Ellenore Griffith.
More than $40,000 prize money will be awarded by judges Michael Snape (sculptor), Jane Watters (Gallery Director) and Nick Vickers (curator).
The event is in its fourth year and is the initiative of long-time local McMahons Point resident and former CEO of the National Trust, Elsa Atkin. Atkin works mostly on a pro bono basis with local volunteers and North Sydney Council to present the exhibition “With the support of North Sydney Council and several generous sponsors, this year’s exhibition will run for nine days and will give many more people the chance to see it. Sculpture at Sawmillers is my way of helping sculptors and a way of giving back to the community by using my expertise along with the skills of many volunteers.”
Atkin’s affiliation with Sawmillers Reserve goes far beyond her daily walks there with her Border Collie, Tilly. “I love Sawmillers because in the 1980s we worked successfully to save the reserve from development”, says Atkin.
Exhibition opening
The Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency The Hon Margaret Beazley, AC QC will officially open the exhibition on Saturday 19 February, 3pm. The opening event will be presented by ABC’s Simon Marnie with a special performance by the stunning Japanese-style drumming group TaikOz.
Attendees can view and buy sculptures in a beautiful outdoor environment, morning and afternoon tea and coffee will be sold to raise money for the local North Sydney Scouts.
Exhibition details
Sculpture at Sawmillers will run from Saturday 19 to Sunday 27 February 2022.
Prizes include a non-acquisitive Sculpture at Sawmillers Prize of $30,000 and other prizes including a Highly Commended Prize of $5000, a People’s Choice Prize of $3,000 and an Emerging Sculptor of $2.500.
All sculptures in the exhibition will be for sale without commission.
Sculpture at Sawmillers is supported by North Sydney Council, Australian Catholic University, The Neilson Foundation, Zurich Insurance, TBH, North Sydney Rotary and other members of the community.
Anthony Battaglia, ‘Without End’ Bibi Soleimani, George Squires, Indiana Vaynman, Jillian Nalty, Martin Oldfield, Michael Owen, Sayoko Aso, Susann Taylor, ‘Agent Orange’ Jenny Green, ‘Interplay’ Ewan Coates, ‘Multiverse #27’ Mauro Badii, ‘Deseo (Desire)’ Julie Love, ‘Cocoon’
