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Castaways Sculpture Entries Revealed 2011

Visitors to this year’s Castaways Sculpture awards can look forward to a newspaper-wrapped megalodon fin cutting through the surface of the sand like a knife; an umbrella made from used fan casings; and a gaggle of free range chooks sculpted from recycled chicken mesh amongst almost fifty sculptures from sculptors around the state.

2010 Castaways Major Award winner Tania Spencer returns to the beach with a woven conical form created from reused aluminium power line cable, which will be visible at night due to the inclusion of multiple L.E.D. lights. Neil Jones, who took home the City of Rockingham Award in 2010, has crafted discarded computer screens, metal olive containers, plastic milk containers and aluminium cans into a creation he calls ‘The Monitor Lizard’. Jones says of his creation, “Not that long ago people passed items down through the family and friends. Electrical goods are now so cheap they’ve become a fashion statement. I was staggered with the enormity of discarded computer monitors and equipment in bulk rubbish collections in my area. I could have easily collected 200 computer monitors or small colour TV’s in a month. Though my work is a bit of light-hearted fun, it is meant to make the viewer think about how our insatiable thirst for the latest and greatest is turning into an uncontrollable rubbish monster.”

More than 13,000 visitors attended Castaways in 2010, and record numbers are again expected at the Rockingham foreshore between May 7 and 15.  Competition will be fierce, with over $17 500 in prizes available. Curator Lyn DiCiero said that what artists create from society’s discards is truly inspiring: “Works in the exhibition this year range from thought provoking to just plain fun. It is really interesting to try and guess the materials an artist has incorporated into a piece and I encourage visitors to the exhibition to try and guess the types materials used.”

City of Rockingham Mayor, Barry Sammels, has seen some of the 2011 entries: “I have seen several of the submissions received and I am delighted at the high quality of entries we are seeing in 2011. I am expecting the judges will have a very difficult time selecting pieces for the exhibition in May.”

For the first time, a special Schools’ Award will be held on the beach from Friday 13 May to the close of the exhibition, with six local schools in the running to win the inaugural BHP Billiton Perpetual Schools Award Trophy.

Coupled with the community workshop and Forum ‘Sculpture with a Conscience’, Castaways Sculpture Awards 2011 once again promises to bring a week of colour and imagination to the Rockingham Foreshore.

The 2011 Castaways Sculpture Awards will take place at the Rockingham Foreshore, Val Street Rockingham, from May 7 to 15.

More Information
Please telephone Lyn DiCiero, Castaways Curator on 9336 1861 or email art@artschronicle.com.au OR City of Rockingham, Community Capacity Building: Culture and Arts team on 9528 0386 or email castaways@rockingham.wa.gov.au.

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