The fourth Somewhere down the Lachlan Sculpture competition received 23 entries with the $20,000 acquisition prize going to The Hunter by Damian Vick, and the $4,000 open prize won by by Brett Garling for The Mark Maker.
“What you have achieved here is quite fantastic,” said Clive Calder, the guest judge from Sydney at the announcement of the winners. “I commend you for your efforts. There are not many towns with a space like this.”
Clive said the composition of the bronze sculpture The Mark Maker was fantastic. “I like the way he sculpted the hands.” In the acquisition category three pieces stood out for Clive: The Hunter, A Farmers Draught and Balance. The Hunter will become the property of the Forbes Arts Society and will remain in Albion Park until the sculptures will be moved out around Lake Forbes and eventually all the way to Condobolin.
Damian told The Forbes Phoenix from Melbourne he was surprised and honoured to have won. “While it is a thrill to
be recognised at a competition of this calibre, the award is particularly significant because I feel The Hunter represents a key milestone in my career. I have been making sculptures for almost 10 years and this work is possibly the first sculpture that accurately displays the kind of dynamism and energy I have long sought to achieve. “I am truly grateful to the organisers and the people of Forbes, who have under trying circumstances made this event happen.
I am truly honoured that a work of mine will become part of your community.” Wayne Richards, President of the Forbes Services Memorial Club who established the annual competition, said entries came from all over Australia, even as far as Broome. Brett is from Wongarbon near Dubbo, while John Den, who sculpted Lachland Tower, is from Eugowra.
President of the Forbes Arts Society, Keith Mullete, said the Somewhere down the Lachlan trail had become a substantial project with the recent funding announcement for the first part of the trail to expand the Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre. With the Lachlan Council’s input the Utes in the Paddock will be moved to the end of the Lachland Valley at the end of the trail. “I hope the community gets behind the project and that you love it,” said Keith.
Ten sculptures are on exhibition in Albion Park, while a further 13 sculptures are on display in shop windows until the end of October.