11 September 2019

Lake Light Sculpture attracts over 20,000 people to Jindabyne

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Winner of People’s Choice Award Sponsored by Banjo-Paterson Inn, "Roofus" by Matt Hill. Photo: Alex Rea.

Winner of People’s Choice Award Sponsored by Banjo-Paterson Inn, “Roofus” by Matt Hill. Photo: Alex Rea.

Over the Easter weekend, Lake Jindabyne provided a stunning natural backdrop for sculpture with the 17th Lake Light Sculpture exhibition welcoming over 20,000 visitors.

Like Bondi’s famous Sculpture by the Sea and the more recent Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe (WA), people have voted with their feet, and trodden pathways and hills to view outdoor sculpture exhibitions locally. In South East NSW, Sculpture on Clyde at Batemans Bay, and Sculpture Bermagui have also attracted many visitors.

Winner $1,500 Waste To Art Award Sponsored By Snowy Monaro Regional Council “Age of the Machine No. 2” by Alan Croquett. Photo: Alex Rea.

Winner $1,500 Waste To Art Award Sponsored By Snowy Monaro Regional Council “Age of the Machine No. 2” by Alan Croquett. Photo: Alex Rea.

Meagan Cutcliffe from the Lake Light Management Committee says the event brings millions of dollars into the Jindabyne economy, “The town really fills up. There’s also the Art Show in the Memorial Hall, events up in Thredbo, and of course the fishing to draw people up to the mountains.”

Snowy businesses had also supported the sculpture event well, with a total prize pool of $24,250.

The outdoor sculpture exhibition and the competition was held along the foreshore walk of Lake Jindabyne from 30th March to 2nd April. While it was busy every day, many visitors returned in the evening to see the works eliminated. Each of the works has lighting embedded in and around them so that the sculptures can play on the light of Easter’s full moon.

As part of the evening activities, the permanent Strzelecki Monument at Banjo Paterson Park was also used as a canvas for a spectacular light show.

Matt Hill’s “The Shadow Sphere”. Photo: Lisa Matthes.

Matt Hill’s “The Shadow Sphere”. Photo: Lisa Matthes.

There were a record number of entries this year with 122 works on show by 50 artists. The entrants came from every calibre, including schools, community groups, and local tradies. The program also included a visiting artist and children’s workshops.

The $10,000 winning work titled, “Les St Hill and the Tin Canoe”, was by Far South Coast artists John Blay, Amanda Stuart and Jane Ulman. This multimedia piece featured a corrugated iron canoe, with solar panels, lights and sound recordings of World War 1 veteran Les St Hill. This work had been exhibited in the 2017 Sculpture by the Sea exhibition as well as Sculpture Bermagui this year.

“Les St Hill and the Tin Canoe”, was by Far South Coast artists John Blay, Amanda Stuart & Jane Ulman. Photo: John Blay Facebook.

“Les St Hill and the Tin Canoe”, was by Far South Coast artists John Blay, Amanda Stuart & Jane Ulman. Photo: John Blay Facebook.

Among the other awards was the People’s Choice Award which went to Victorian artist Matt Hill for his work, “The Shadow Sphere”, that looked spectacular with the lights shining through in the evening.

Next year the competition will include a Smalls Exhibition at Rydges Hotel, so that smaller more fragile pieces can be included.

Last year’s winner of the Thredbo Resort Major Award, ‘Buoyansea’ by Jesse Graham, was acquired as a permanent public art installation at Batemans Bay, and can be seen on Beach Road on the water’s edge.

Winner of Schools Award Sponsored By Perisher “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme” by Jindabyne Central School – Year 8. Photo: Alex Rea.

Winner of Schools Award Sponsored By Perisher “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme” by Jindabyne Central School – Year 8. Photo: Alex Rea.

Other Awards went to:

  • Winner $1,500 Waste to Art Award sponsored by Snowy Monaro Regional Council – “Age of the Machine No. 1 & No. 2” by Alan Croquett
  • Winner $2,500 Snowy Monaro Environment Award sponsored by Rebel Penfold-Russell OAM, Ian Low & Family – “Bowerbird Nest” by Patricia Keenan
  • Winner $2,500 Environment Award sponsored by Snowy Hydro – “Samara – Winged Seed of Change” by Jen Mallinson
  • Winner Schools Award Sponsored by Perisher – “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme” by Jindabyne Central School Year 8
  • Winner Red Energy Illumination Award – Todd Costa’s “Bridge Timber Series”
  • Winner of People’s Choice Award Sponsored by Banjo Paterson Inn – “Roofus” by Matt Hill
  • Winner Youth Award sponsored by Snowy Mountains Grammar School – “Child of War” by Milan Dragovic
  • Winner Encouragement Award sponsored by Jindabyne Central School – “Musical Reeds” by Shannon Hobbs
  • Winner ANU School of Art & Design Residency Prize – “Contrary Man” by Will Maguire
Winner of $2,500 Environment Award Sponsored By Snowy Hydro “Samara – Winged Seed of Change” by Jen Mallinson. Photo: Alex Rea.

Winner of $2,500 Environment Award Sponsored By Snowy Hydro “Samara – Winged Seed of Change” by Jen Mallinson. Photo: Alex Rea.

View more works at the Lake Light Sculpture Facebook page.

Words and pictures by Alex Rea

*This article first appeared on RiotACT

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