It was a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere at this year’s unveiling of the Sculpture Forbes 2015 Acquisition Prize on Thursday 1 October at Albion Park. Over 400 people turned out to see the sculptures entered into this year’s prize from artists all over the country including Melbourne, Sydney and the greater Central West region.
A number of sculptures were unveiled on Thursday evening but there could only be one winner for the $20,000 Acquisition Prize and that was Harrie Fasher whose self-portrait sculpture named “Bird and I” impressed judge
Alan Somerville, a celebrated sculpture artist. Harrie’s sculpture, depicting a horse with a bird, references her passion for horses and her experiences as an accomplished equestrian athlete, as well as describing how she perceives herself in that context.
Her artworks explore the horse and its relationships to humans on a physical, historical and mythological level. Harrie has exhibited both nationally and internationally with works shown at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra, Sydney’s Sculpture by the Sea, the Baer Art Centre in Iceland and London’s Mall Galleries. Wayne Richards, Sculpture Forbes co-ordinator and Forbes Services Memorial Club President said the quality of work this year is impressive.
The objective of the competition is to provide a platform for a sculptor to display their artistic endeavours as well as to bring tourists and locals into the main shopping centre of Forbes to view the sculptures.