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Castaways Ahoy!

Castaways Sculpture Awards 7 - 15 May 2011 Rockingham Foreshore
It’s fun, innovative and highly original. Now in its fourth year the much-anticipated annual Castaways Sculpture at Palm Beach, Rockingham is set to delight, astound and provoke new ways of thinking about recycled materials as art.

A colony of penguins made from aluminium and mesh will wander through Castaways this year, along with blooms of jellyfish, estranged from their watery environment. Watch out for a shark with a skin of newspapers cutting its way through the sand like a knife, perhaps Peter Hill’s Refuse Man to the Rescue, his body filled with discarded materials, will save us all! Or just view the free-range chooks, let out for the occasion, sculpted from recycled chicken mesh. A Monitor Lizard by Neil Jones is exactly that, a lizard made from computer monitors found basking on the verge during a bulk rubbish collection. Neil said, “I could have easily collected 200 computer monitors or small colour TVs in a month. Though my work is a bit of lighthearted fun, it’s meant to make the viewer think about how our insatiable thirst for the latest and greatest is turning into an uncontrollable rubbish monster.”
 
The outdoor exhibition includes both established and emerging artists who have risen to the challenge of creating works of outstanding beauty from humble recycled materials.

The Awards, administered by the City of Rockingham, highlight the City’s strong commitment to recycling and growing reputation as a centre of cultural activity. City of Rockingham Mayor Barry Sammels said the Awards have several layers of significance to artists and the visiting public:

“There are challenges for artists in using recycled materials and a free Forum, and daily guided tours to gain a better understanding of the works. Through an education program and inaugural Schools Competition sponsored by BHP Billiton we hope to inspire children in their formative years to retain a strong message of the importance of recycling, and also an appreciation of aesthetics.”

Non-acquisitive prizes totalling $17,500 consist of the $5000 major Alcoa Sculpture Award and $3000 second Prize for sculpture with an aluminium component; the $3000 City of Rockingham Award for recycled sculpture in any medium; the $3000 International Power Mitsui Award for innovation in recycled sculpture and $3000 Evermore Heights Sustainable Living Award. All prizes are non-acquisitive, and most works in the exhibition are for sale. Guided tours of the exhibition will operate at 2pm daily.
 
Participating artists in Castaways 2011 include Richard Hammer, Joan Johnson, Emanuel Arkeveld, Maris Raudzins, Inta Goddard, Tania Spencer (major winner Castaways 2010), Robin Yakinthou (People’s Choice winner Castaways 2008), Len Zuks (People’s Choice winner Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe 2009), and Jacq Chorlton (People’s Choice winner Castaways 2010).
 
Judges for Castaways 2011 are Amy Barrett-Lennard, Director of the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art and Alan Dodge AM, Arts Advisor and former Director of the Art Gallery of WA who was awarded an Order of Australia for his services to the arts in the 2009 Australia Day honours.

The Castaways Sculpture Awards free Forum: Sculpture with a Conscience is on Wednesday11 May at the Gary Holland Community Centre, 19 Kent Street, Rockingham. The Forum explores new concepts in recycled sculpture. Though free, those intending to attend the Forum are asked to register by contacting Lee Battersby on 9528 0386 or lee.battersby@rockingham.wa.gov.au

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