21 January 2010
	CURRENT Sculpture Biennial 2010   Rural City of Wangaratta Coordinator Chris Dormer T: 03 5722 0762 E: sculpture@wangaratta.vic.gov.au or c.dormer@wangaratta.vic.gov.au		In This Issue Entries Closing Soon CURRENT Acquisitive Sculpture Award 2010 CURRENT Sculpture Awards Merriwa Park - A Great Location Make CURRENT a Part of Easter 2010 Photographers CURRENT Sculpture Biennial Program Conversations in 3D CURRENT Form Exhibition

Entries Closing Soon CURRENT Sculpture Awards  The Wangaratta Rural City Council invites artists to submit entries for the CURRENT Sculpture Biennial Awards..... Presented as part of the CURRENT Sculpture Biennial 2010, the awards involve the creation of both permanent and ephemeral artwork suitable for outdoor installation. The CURRENT Acquisitive Sculpture Award $12000 Prize For sculptural work suitable for permanent outdoor installation. A Commission Brief process will require artists to submit a site concept, plus a maquette and/or developmental drawings. The CURRENT Ephemeral Sculpture Award $3000 Non-Acquisitive Prize For sculptural work suitable for temporary outdoor installation. Complete the required Entry Form and Artists Summary Form Exhibition Dates : 2 -5 April Easter 2010 Exhibition Locations: Acquisitive - Workshop Space, Wangaratta exhibitions Gallery Ephemeral - Merriwa Park, Wangaratta Entries Close : 5pm Friday 29 January 2010 Download an Entry Form: www.wangaratta.vic.gov.au Image: Smout Michael Brierley, CURRENT Sculpture Biennial 2008 CURRENT Acquisitive Sculpture Award 2010 CURRENT Acquisitive Sculpture Award  $12,000 Prize  The Rural City of Wangaratta Council has presented the CURRENT Sculpture Event five times since 2003,this year is the 6th event and the award is now a biennial sculpture event. The event has previously required completed, full scale sculptures, for entry into the Acquisitive Award category with artworks disaplayed at Merriwa Park. As the sculpture event evolves with each successive biennial event the organising committee review the previous event, looking toward new and exciting developments and directions. In 2010 the Ephemeral section of the Biennial Sculpture Biennial will continue as in previous years and will be displayed in Merriwa Park from the 2-5 April. This year however sees changes to the Acquisitive Award section of the CURRENT Sculpture Award. The 2010 award seeks “Expressions of Interest” for a site specific sculpture concept developed as a maquette and detailed developmental drawings based on a Commission Brief. Submissions by selected artists will be displayed at the Wangaratta exhibitions Gallery, Workshop Space 2-5 April 2010. There are very few installed sculptures and public art works in Wangaratta City and/or the rural environs. This new Acquisitive Award category provides an opportunity for the municipality to embrace an important and timely addition to existing public art and sculpture. The CURRENT Acquisitive Sculpture Award has an amount of $12,000 for the development of a full scale sculpture to be located within the Arts Precinct between the new Performing Arts Centre and the Wangaratta exhibitions Gallery.           Acquisitive Sculpture Site For an Entry Form and Commission Brief: T:  03 5722 0762  F: 03 5722 2969 E: sculpture@wangaratta.vic.gov.au W: Download from the website - www.wangaratta.vic.gov.au P:  PO Box 238, Wangaratta Victoria 3677 CURRENT Sculpture Awards CURRENT Sculpture Awards 2010   CURRENT Acquisitive Sculpture Award $12,000 Prize The winning sculpture to be installed between the Wangaratta exhibitions Gallery and the new Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre   CURRENT Ephemeral Sculpture Award $3,000 Prize For sculptural work suitable for temporary outdoor installation   CURRENT People's Choice Award Voting by the visitors to the Ephemeral Sculpture exhibition at Merriwa Park CURRENT Gardeners Choice Award In the tradition of the Archibald’s Packing Room Prize, members of the Wangaratta City Council’s Garden Department will select one of the Ephemeral sculptures installed in Merriwa Park for the Current Sculpture Biennial and present the 2010 Gardener’s Choice Award.  Image: Part of the Landscape Candy Stevens, CURRENT Sculpture Biennial 2008. Winner of the People's Choice and Gardeners Choice Awards 2008 Merriwa Park - A Great Location Merriwa Park A Great Place to Park Art! One of Australias few sunken gardens, Merriwa Park provides a uniquely beautiful location for an outdoor sculpture exhibition.  Situated close to the junction of the Ovens and King River, both Merriwa Park and its adjacent bushland park - Kaluna, are alive with natural vegetation and wildlife.  With its 100 year old river red gums and the serene lawn areas, fernery and large water features, the park provides a variety of natural features which enhance the artwork installed for the 2010 CURRENT Ephemeral Sculpture Award.                         Artwork Image: Hostile Territory/Friendly Invasion Rose Wedler, CURRENT Sculpture Biennial 2008 Make CURRENT a Part of Easter 2010 Art for Everyone The CURRENT Sculpture Biennial 2010 presents a range of activities for the everyone to enhance the experience of the CURRENT Ephemeral Sculpture exhibition in Merriwa Park and the CURRENT Acquisitive Award at the Wangaratta exhibitions Gallery Workshop Space for Easter 2010.  Families who visit the CURRENT Sculpture exhibition at Merriwa Park will have an opportunity for their children to participate with a kids craft tent on site at the exhibition on Friday, Saturday and Sunday on the Easter Long Weekend.  Saturday is festive day in Merriwa Park with live music in the afternoon and join the artists for the presentation of the Sculpture Biennial Awards. Visitors can enjoy fresh coffee and refreshments, wine tasting and sales that will be available all weekend with a twilight tour of the exhibition being presented on Friday evening. The full program will be announced in mid February so keep your eye out for it - landing in your inbox soon!!! Image: Touch Susie Losch, CURRENT Sculpture Biennial 2008   Photographers The photographs included here to promote the CURRENT Sculpture Biennial 2010 were photographed by Kathleen Whelan and Maz McGann at the Current Sculpture Biennial 2008 in Merriwa Park Wangaratta.

CURRENT Sculpture Biennial Program Program CURRENT Acquisitive Sculpture Award Wangaratta exhibitions Gallery, Workshop Space  56 Ovens St. Wangaratta Open: Friday 2 April - Monday 5 April   Time: 10am-4pm   CURRENT Ephemeral Sculpture Award Merriwa  Park Open: Daylight hours - Fri 2 April, Sat 3 April & Sun 4 April, Dawn – 2pm Mon 5 April     CURRENT Form Wangaratta exhibitions Gallery North East Victorian Sculptors Bruce Derrick, Margaret England, Ben Gilbert, Ken Raff, Mark Selkrig 6 March - 5 April 2010 Gallery Hours: 12 - 5 Mon-Tues, 10 - 5 Wed-Fri, 1 - 4 Sat-Sun   Artists Reception Wangaratta exhibitions gallery Thursday 1 April at 5.30 pm Twilight Tour Merriwa Park Friday 5.30 pm CURRENT Sculpture Awards Announcements Merriwa Park Wangaratta  Saturday 3 April at 2pm Children’s Activities Saturday 2 April and Sunday 3 April Location: Merriwa Park Image: Cicadacar Andrius Petkus, CURRENT Sculpture Biennial 2008  Conversations in 3D Conversations in 3D Artists Talking, Learning... Incorporating a range of opportunities for artists to interact both formally and informally with workshops, and social gatherings, the Current Sculpture Biennial 2010 Conversations in 3D program is being finalised at the moment. The program runs from 1 - 5 April and is eager to create an environment where artists can come together to talk about their ideas, discuss issues with experienced sculptors and public artists and enjoy some social interation with thers in the field.   Activities planned so far include.... Artists Reception After a long day installing your artwork in the park, artists and guests are invited back to the Wangaratta exhibitions Gallery for a well earned drink.  A popular event in the past where artists mix and ideas emergeAn outstanding opportunity to talk with one of Australia's leading contemporary sculptors Q & A Breakfast Saturday  2 April at 10.30 am Sculpture Workshops/Masterclass Spend some time with a master sculptor - talk and learn some practical skills. Ideas Workshops A series of workshops where you can bring your ideas along and have them workshopped by other artists.  Who nows what will happen!! Pathways, collaborations, more ideas and some advice on how to see your vision through. Heaps to see and do in this program with final details to come CURRENT Form Exhibition CURRENT Form Exhibition 6 March - 5 April 2010 North East Victorian Sculptors Bruce Derrick, Margaret England, Ben Gilbert, Ken Raff, Mark Selkrig Wangaratta exhibitions Gallery T: 03 5722 0865 E: gallery@wangaratta.vic.gov.au Gallery Hours: 12 - 5 Mon-Tues, 10 - 5 Wed-Fri, 1 - 4 Sat-Sun Closed public Holidays and for exhibition installations FREE ENTRY Image: Cloudtree (detail) Ben Gilbert CURRENT Sculpture Biennial 2008