President's Message 2010
AGM Address from the President for 2010
Jenny Green AGM address
Year ended 31 December 2009
The Society has had another very successful year. Our finances are in good shape and we are well supported by the membership
This year we held four exhibitions in six locations – first Mosman Village Festival of Sculpture, then Chifley Tower & Plaza and Governor Phillip & Macquarie Towers as a double exhibition, next Darling Park and finally MLC Centre and Australia Square as another double exhibition. Each exhibition showcased the variety and high standard of the work our members are producing. We made a concerted effort to promote the exhibitions with advertising in LOOK, Art Almanac and the Sydney Morning Herald
The Society’s financial position is very good. This year we made a profit of $11,731 and our net assets at 31 December were $53,484. Sculpture sales were an impressive $169,100 for the year. Feisal will give you more in his financial report shortly
We have recently given our website a face lift. We now have a smart contemporary look and improved navigation. The website serves to promote our sculptors and as a reference for sculpture related training, products and services. We often refer potential sculpture buyers to the website – it serves both to showcase the work and tell the buyer more about the sculptor. So if you are not yet on the web now is the time to get moving
I would like to sincerely thank all the members of the Committee for their dedication during the year. Without this core group of volunteers the Society would not be where we are today. The Committee meets monthly to manage the operations of the Society. I would particularly like to single out a few individuals for their enthusiastic dedication: our Vice Presidents, Babette Gomme and Feyona van Stom; our Secretary, Eva Chant, our Treasurer, Feisal Ramadan, and our Bulletin Editor, Katherine Harrington.
During the year the Ella Krug and John Brooke retired from the Committee and Byron Comninos will stand down at this meeting. I would like to thank each of them very much for their contribution.
I would like to digress from my report on the Society for a moment to pay tribute to three of Australia’s foremost sculptors who have recently passed away: Tom Bass, Robert Woodward and Errol Davis. All three were members of the Sculptors Society.
Tom Bass, a founding member of the Society, is best known for his public sculptures, often totemic forms and emblems related to community. Tom founded his own sculpture school in 1974 and it has been the training ground of many a sculptor since.
Robert Woodward was both an architect and sculptor. He specialised in water sculptures. Best known is the Sydney landmark, the El Alamein Fountain.
Errol Davis was not only a leading sculptor but he was instrumental in establishing the Macquarie University Sculpture Park in 1992, one of the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. These three men are truly inspirational and will be remembered by their enormous contribution to Sculpture.
2010 is shaping up very well.
This year’s Mosman Village Festival of Sculpture is underway with 98 works on display during March. The reaction to the exhibition has been excellent; we have had some good advertising and media coverage; and we have made 12 sales for far. If you have not been yet, pop by and take a look.
Our exhibition schedule for 2010 is similar to last year. Our double Towers exhibition is in May, Darling Park in August and another double Australia Square and MLC in October. So we need lots of sculptures! It is the perfect opportunity to get out there and promote your work.
Finally, my thanks to the members of the Society. Without you we would not be able to stage such successful events. Please keep up the great work.
Jenny Green
March 2010