By Ann Marie AngebrandT
TWENTY-TWO sculptors have been chosen from nearly 200 entrants as finalists in next year’s prestigious Helen Lempriere National Sculpture Award.
The annual event brings together the nation’s leading artists at Werribee Park in one of the country’s riches prize pools for sculptors.
An $80,000 cash and professional development package is provided to the winner.
Other prizes include three $3000 highly commended prizes, a $1000 judges’ encouragement award and a $5000 popular choice award.
The Wyndham City Council also spends $35,000 on a work it chooses to be part of its extensive public art collection.
An exhibition of the finalists will be held at Werribee Park from 1 March to 27 May, 2007, with the winner of the award announced on 28 February 2007.
Award manager Anne Robertson said the judges were impressed by this year’s 185 submissions, many of which embraced the scale and setting of Werribee Park.
“I am confident that each work chosen will challenge the artists and inspire the viewing public,” she said.
Featured on the list of finalists are some of Australia’s most accomplished sculptors, including Matt Calvert, Kon Dimopolous, Roman Liebach, Donna Marcus and Louise Paramor.
Thirteen of the finalists are from Victoria, four from NSW, two from Tasmania, two from Queensland and one from Western Australia.
The award is named after the late Australian artist, Helen Lempriere, a niece of Dame Nellie Melba.
