The selection panel for Sculptures in the Garden 2021 has been announced…
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A GIFT OF ART TO THE REGION - THE LEGACY OF THE LAWSON PARK SCULPTURE WALK
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.
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SIG and Guide Dogs NSW/ACT. A partnership from the very beginning.
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.
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Sculptures in the Garden AUGUST 2020 Update for Artists
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.
Read MoreSculptures in the Garden MAY 2020 Update
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.
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SUNDAY SESSION with ANNABELLE HICKSON at SIG
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.
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‘Pentad’ by Hui Selwood
INSTALLATION OF SIG 2018 ACQUISITIONS
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.
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STEPHEN KING TO OPEN 2019 SCULPTURES IN THE GARDEN
Sculptures in the Garden is excited to announce that Stephen King will open the 2019 event.
Read MoreSIG 2019 SELECTION PANEL – MEET THE TEAM
The Sculptures in the Garden 2019 selection committee has been announced …
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WENDY WHITELEY TO OPEN SCULPTURES IN THE GARDEN 2018
~ The celebrated artist’s muse confirmed to open this year’s event ~
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LAWSON PARK SCULPTURE WALK
Lawson Park in Mudgee is a beautiful, tranquil and peaceful setting that plays host to a magnificent sculpture walk showcasing artwork from the Sculptures in the Garden exhibition.
The sculpture walk came to be after Sculptures in the Garden (SIG) 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 Coal came on board and donated $5,000 for another acquisition prize and has continued donating this prize for the past four 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 continues to take place.
“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.”
'Town' By Paul Bacon SIG2017
“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. Our objective is to continue enhancing the quality of works displayed at Sculptures in the Garden. Prize money is a big draw card for artists but for their works to be acquired by the Council and displayed in the public realm, is also very attractive and a more permanent celebration of their work,” Kay concluded.
The sculptural works are created using a variety of materials and techniques and are selected by a committee of people from backgrounds including council, engineers, architects and art curators, whom abide by strict guidelines when selecting the winning pieces.
In addition to the sculptural artworks that run along the river in Lawson Park West, there are additional works for the public to enjoy that are currently located in council chambers and the local Mudgee library. MWRC will continue to add to its public art collection not only for works to be installed in Lawson Park but elsewhere throughout the region.
“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,”
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 conception in 2013, SIG has enabled MWRC to acquire 21 sculptures for their public art collection.
- SIG and MWRC have purchased 11 sculptures
- Moolarben Coal have donated prize money for 6 sculptures
- ‘Friends of SIG’ have donated prize money for 4 sculptures