2016 Lake Light Sculpture Jindabyne
words and photos by Steve Cuff.
Jindabyne’s annual Lake Light Sculpture has once again proved to be the place to visit this Easter. Visitors have flocked to see what magnificent creations the artists have presented, and they have not been disappointed with a fantastic showcase of sculptures lining the lake foreshore awaiting viewing both during the day and the night time illumination.
Judges, Denise Ferris, Rebel Penfold-Russell and Jan Ireland had a tough time, spending Thursday afternoon and Thursday night selecting the winners. As in most years, the quality of the work has made judging very close for many of the awards.
The major award winner, Joseph Bartolo’s Struggle for Life in both day and night.
The major award, sponsored by Thredbo, went to Joseph Bartolo for his work, Struggle of Life, depicting life in the animal kingdom made out of forged mild steel and welded together.
The ANU sculpture residency award went to Jimmy Rix, a former major award winner at previous Lake Light Sculptures. His work Ready to Fly was crafted out of corten steel, Rix’s main material used in many of his sculptures.
“I have always seen other artists win it and have been quite jealous, it is something I have always wanted to do,” said Rix referring to his three week residency award at the Australian National University in Canberra.
Jimmy Rix’s Ready to Fly.
The Snowy River Shire waste to art award went to Andrew Whitehead from Urana, near Wagga Wagga, for his cast iron horse called Freedom Run. Andrew nearly missed the event altogether when his F250 truck transmission decided to explode on the Snowy Mountains Highway near Talbingo on his journey over.
At one point he considered giving up on attending, but after summonsing help from family, they all finally arrived with Andrew stating, “We were deciding what we were going to do, will we go home and be miserable for the Easter, or will we organise to keep going. My daughter in law came from Albury to pick up the people and my brother came from Urana and hitched up the trailer and got here just after judging had finished, but they cut us some slack there.”
Andrew Whitehead and his winning Freedom Run sculpture.
The highly anticipated Snowy Hydro illumination award went to Jindabyne’s Ben Eyles for his creation Why So Blue. This bright blue illumination sits in the lake and is a tail of a blue whale emerging from the water. Ben has also taken over as artistic director of the Lake Light Sculpture from predecessor Todd Costa, who for many years has been a driving force behind the event.
Ben Eyles with his Why So Blue sculpture in Lake Jindabyne.
Tobias Bennet won the Banjo Paterson environment award for his Little Red Ramstag, the Country Women’s Association won the South East Arts encouragement award for their Crows with Attitude. Portia Terlich won the Snowy Mountains Grammar youth award for Speak for the trees. This is a must see sculpture at night and is now the Snowy Times Facebook cover for Easter.
Jindabyne Central School won the Perisher school award for the year 8 students Monsters, a selection of clay glaze assorted plants.
The Lake Light Sculpture finishes on Easter Monday and visitors can vote for their favourite people’s choice awards, which will be announced on Monday afternoon. A gold coin donation is greatly appreciated to help keep the event running in future years and you can donate near the tent on the foreshore path.
David Doyles Ski Run collection were highly popular with most selling on the first day.
Thredbo’s Stuart Diver presents Joseph Bartolo with his major prize award.
Berridale’s Alex Corby and his Bushy sculpture.
The Speak for the trees sculpture by Portia Terlich is spectacular at night.
The Heads Up by Jindabyne’s Steve Croquett is very impressive.
Peak a Boo by Joan Simpson stands out during the evening.
Beth Crawford’s The Fleet is a great display of ceramic objects.
The Monsters from Jindabyne Central School year 8 students won the Perisher school award.
Jindabyne Central School Smile Project lights up at night.
