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 the beautiful Mudgee region.
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.
In 2013, Sculptures in the Garden and MWRC funded a $15,000 acquisition prize to purchase an artwork from the exhibition. The following year, Moolarben came on board and donated $5,000 for another acquisition prize and has continued donating this prize for the past five years.
In 2015, the SIG committee initiated “Friends of Sculptures in the Garden” with the goal of raising funds to offer another acquisition prize for contributing artists. In 2016 ‘Friends of SIG’ raised enough money for a $5,000 acquisition prize and in 2017 enough money for a $10,000 prize.
Each of these prizes enable a growing collection of works to be acquired for the sculpture walk, which is visited and enjoyed year-round by both locals and visitors to the region.
The creation of the sculpture walk, in conjunction with MWRC, is one of the main reasons why the SIG exhibition has continued to take place. The exhibition has contributed 23 acquisitive works to the Lawson Park Sculpture Walk; visited and enjoyed year-round by both locals and visitors to the region.
Heavy Load by Dave Walsh :: 2014 MWRC / SIG Acquisition
The importance of the sculpture walk to the community is the reason we created ‘Friends of Sculptures in the Garden’. We wanted to provide another reason for all sculptors to consider exhibiting at Sculptures in the Garden and our objective was to continue enhancing the quality of works exhibited at the yearly event. Prize money has always been a big draw card for artists but for their works to be acquired by the Council and displayed in the public realm, has also been very attractive and a more permanent celebration of their work. We want as many people as possible to enjoy the amazing artworks created for SIG, and the permanent art display that is the sculpture walk, provides this opportunity to all members of the public. The sculpture walk is a beautiful legacy to the region from the SIG event.
In addition to the sculptural artworks that run along the river in Lawson Park, there are works for the public to enjoy that are currently located in council chambers and the local Mudgee library. The 10th anniversary year of the exhibition also marked the first year of a wonderful partnership with Mudgee Hospital: displaying and recognising public art in their grounds to boost the spirits of those in need of inspiration.
The Lawson Park Sculpture Walk will continue to act as a legacy of the Sculptures in the Garden event and all it has achieved for arts in the Central West.
MWRC Mayor, Des Kennedy has previously commented on the Sculpture Walk, saying, “The collection reflects our natural and cultural heritage, engages with our community and adds value to our infrastructure, attractions and public amenity. Council is committed to developing this public art program and encourages the participation in and appreciation of art by our community,”
Pentad by Hui Selwood :: 2018 MWRC / SIG Acquisition
The collection’s creators are both local and visiting artists including, David Sherlock, Ingrid Morley and Wynne Prize finalist, Ulan Murray for his copper tree sculpture which currently resides in council chambers.
Since 2013, SIG has enabled MWRC to acquire 23 sculptures for their public art collection.
SIG and MWRC have purchased 11 sculptures
Moolarben have donated prize money for 6 sculptures
‘Friends of SIG’ have donated prize money for 4 sculptures
