History
Festival Beginnings...
At
a Toorak Village Traders meeting in April 2001, the coordinator
of the Traders Association - Xena Holt & noted Australian Curator Ken Scarlett, suggested the idea of a Sculpture Festival in the Village. The executive committee
& then President Tony Fialides decided to evaluate
the idea and with the support of local traders to go forward.
 The Stonnington Council was approached,
and embraced the idea with a major funding sponsorship. The first Toorak Village
Festival of Sculpture took place in May 2002.
Tony Fialides of IMP Jewellery and exhibition director since 2002 said " the aim of the exhibition is to exhibit sculptures and attract visitors to Toorak Village, and to encourage them to look in our shop windows as they walk around the Village.
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Ken Scarlett
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| 2010
TOORAK VILLAGE SCULPTURE EXHIBITION |
The 2010 Toorak Village Sculpture Exhibition, curated by Malcolm Thomson, was very successful with high quality sculpture, increased number of visitors and shoppers to the Village over the month of May and a record number of sculptures sold this year.
Cr John Chandler, Tony Fialides & Kelly O'Dwyer MP |
Toorak Village businesses displayed 85 contemporary sculptures in their windows with 10 large sculptures bolted to the pavements of Toorak Road. Artists from VIC, QLD, SA, WA, NSW and ACT were all represented in the exhibition with visitors coming from all around Victoria, many from interstate and overseas. The Opening event was attended by over 300 invited traders, artists, art collectors, councillors & special guests. Officially opened by Kelly O’Dwyer MP Federal Member for Higgins, on Friday April 30th at the Tok H Shopping Centre, followed by music and dancing at the new Trak nightclub.
This year saw the introduction of a ‘new’ Sculpture Prize Competition where all visitors to the Toorak Village had the opportunity to win an Ian Lyell Design sculpture valued at $4,500 by attending and filling in the entry form in the catalogue.
The Toorak Village Traders Association this year will purchase the Charles Aquilina sculpture – ‘Beyond the Boundries’ for permanent display at the entrance of the Toorak Place Arcade. This is the third sculpture that now joins work by Rudi Jass and Julia Anderson in the ‘Toorak Village Street Collection’.
Charles Aquilina sculpture –
‘Beyond the Boundries’ |
AWARDS & WINNERS
This years 95 sculptures were individually assessed and critiqued by Dr Ken Wach, head of Academic Art at the University of Melbourne, who after many hours judged the winners. 3 prizes and awards were given to the value of $8,500 – The City of Stonnington & Toorak Village Traders Award of $5,000 to Fatih Semiz with exterior exhibit no 63 - ‘Ice’ at 501 Toorak Road. The Westpac Toorak Award of $2,500 to Anton McMurray with shop exhibit no 20 – ‘The Visitor’ at the Commonwealth Bank. The Tok Corporate Award of $1,000 to Angela Leech with shop exhibit no 32 – ‘1956 Horsepower’ at Henry Bucks Menswear.
SPONSORSHIP
The success of the Sculpture Exhibition is due to the continued support of the City of Stonnington and our many other sponsor partners including Melbourne Weekly, Yarra Trams, Westpac Toorak, Tok Corporate Centre, Tok H Shopping Centre, Toorak Travel, Ian Lyell Design, Bluestar Print, Aromatique, Marshall White and Rotary Toorak. |
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2010 AWARDS
& WINNERS |
City of Stonnington & Toorak Village Traders Award of $5,000
Fatih Semiz - ‘Ice’
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Westpac Toorak Award of $2,500
Anton McMurray - ‘The Visitor’
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Tok Corporate Award of $1,000
Angela Leech - ‘1956 Horsepower’
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| 2009
TOORAK VILLAGE SCULPTURE EXHIBITION |
2009 Toorak Village Sculpture Exhibition
No longer a Festival, 2009 saw the official name change to the ‘Toorak Village Sculpture Exhibition’ with the emphasis on exhibiting the best sculpture works of both emerging and prominent sculptors from around Victoria and interstate. The Opening event attended by over 200 invited traders, artists, art collectors, councillors & special guests, was officially opened by Ted Baillieu MLA on Friday 1st May at the Tok H Shopping Centre.
Tony Fialides, Mayor Claude Ullin & Ted Baillieu MLA |
This the 8th year, we exhibited 85 sculptures selected by our exhibition committee with the assistance of consultant curator – Malcolm Thomson. Bolted to the pavements and enjoying the vibrancy that exists in this compact shopping precinct were 9 large exterior sculptures with 76 smaller sculptures displayed in the shop windows of Toorak Village businesses.
The Toorak Village Traders Association this year purchased the Julia M. Anderson sculpture – ‘Staking the Future-Fertility Totem’ for permanent display at the corner of Toorak & Canterbury Rd. This is the second permanent sculpture that now stands in the Toorak Village enjoyed all year round by all.
Julia Anderson
Staking the Future-Fertility Totem’ |
AWARDS & WINNERS
This years judge Dr. Deanne Hardwick, took many hours to walk the Village, view, assess & finally judge the 85 sculptures to find our winners. 3 awards & prizes to the value of $8,500 were given – City of Stonnington & Toorak Village Traders Award of $5,000 to James Cattell with ‘THE FINAL MOVE’ in Toorak Travel. Yarra Trams Award of $2,500 to Robert Hague with ‘DISCUS’ in Robbie Barker Hair. Tok Corporate Award of $1,000 to Philip Cooper with ‘HOMO COELESTUS NOVUS (HEAVENLY NEW MAN)’ in Jo Malone.
SPONSORSHIP
The success of this years Sculpture Exhibition is largely due to the continued support of the City of Stonnington & our many other sponsor partners including Melbourne Weekly Magazine, Yarra Trams, Westpac, Mercedes-Benz Toorak, Tok Corporate Centre, Tok H Shopping Centre, Toorak Travel, Marshall White & Rotary Toorak
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2009 AWARDS
& WINNERS |
The City of Stonnington & Toorak Village Traders Award of $5,000.
James Cattell ‘The Final Move’
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Yarra Trams Award of $2,500
Robert Hague ‘Discus’
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Tok Corporate Award $1,000
Philip Cooper ‘Homo Coelestus Novus (heavenly new man)’
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| 2008
FESTIVAL OF SCULPTURE |
2008 FESTIVAL OF SCULPTURE
The 2008 Toorak Village Festival of Sculpture took sculpture back into the shop windows of 60 Toorak businesses along with 8 large exterior sculptures bolted to the sidewalks of Toorak Road. To a crowd of many at the Tok H Shopping Centre, Ken Scarlett OAM officially opened the 2008 Sculpture Festival where he commented on how far the sculpture show had come since its inception in 2002, along with much praise for the artists and curator Malcolm Thomson. This was a very successful exhibition with quite a number of sculptures successfully sold to local & interstate customers. It was the year we purchased our first permanent sculpture by Rudi Jass- ‘Think outside the Square’, now displayed outside Vintage Cellars, 481 Toorak Rd.
Rudi Jass- ‘Think outside the Square' |
AWARDS AND WINNERS
This year’s Sculpture Festival was judged by Dan Wollmering Senior Lecturer of Sculpture at Monash University. Dan announced the winners at the Opening event and gave the awards to – Adrian Page with ‘Cross Vaults’ the City of Stonnington and Toorak Village Traders Award of $5,000. The Worrells Mercedes and Melbourne Weekly award of $2,500 went to Marynes Avila for ‘Hybrid Times’. The Rotary Toorak $1,000 award went to Jill Symes for ‘Annie 1 & Annie 2’.
SPONSORSHIP
Along with the Toorak Village Traders Ass & the City of Stonnington, we were supported by Worrells Mercedes-Benz, Melbourne Weekly Magazine, Yarra Trams, Tok H Shopping Centre, Tok Corporate Centre, Rotary & Marshall White.
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2008 AWARDS
& WINNERS |
The City of Stonnington & Toorak Village Traders Award of $5,000.
Adrian Page ‘Cross-Vaults’
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The Worrells Mercedes-Benz & Melbourne Weekly Magazine Award of $2,000
Marynes Avila ‘Hybrid Times’.
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Rotary-Toorak award of $1,000
Jill Symes ‘Annie 1 & Annie 2’
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2007
FESTIVAL OF SCULPTURE |
2007 FESTIVAL OF SCULPTURE
The new look Invitational Toorak Sculpture Festival- “Took it to the Streets”.
In its 6th year, the exhibition which traditionally has displayed
sculptures in the shop windows of Toorak Village, took a new
direction with a new invited curator- Julie Collins, where she invited high profile Australian sculptors committed to their practice, quality, and the continuous journey of innovation through contemporary sculpture, to take part in the 2007 exhibition.
18 innovative large outdoor sculptural works were displayed on footpaths, in alcoves & within plazas, with many providing 24 hour viewing. For 7 weeks from 15 May to 30 June, the Village was home to some of Australia's best sculptures and the exhibition provided all with the perfect opportunity to discover these artists and explore the Village. It created much discussion on the street amongst shoppers, visitors & traders themselves. The large sculptures just sprouted on May 15, waiting to be discovered by all that walked, drove & trammed down Toorak Road.
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Anne Ross
Featuring Artists
Bruce Armstrong, John Kelly, Louise Paramor, Anne Ross, Neil Taylor, Elisabeth Presa, Cliff Burtt, Jason Waterhouse, Dan Wollmering, Bill Perrin, Richard Granville-Smith, David Howell, Peter Randall, Donna Marcus, Dale Cox, Fiona Ruttelle, William Eicholtz
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Sponsorship
City of Stonnington was our Major Sponsor, with 7 local business sponsors - NAB Bank, NAB Private Bank, TOK H Shopping Centre, TOK Corporate Centre, Toorak Village Dental Care, Worrells Mercedes & Biggin & Scott Real Estate providing the signboards. |
| 2006
FESTIVAL OF SCULPTURE |
 The 2006 Festival of Sculpture grew to be the biggest festival of all, exhibiting 110 artists in 110 shop windows, arcades & plaza foyers within the Toorak Village. This, the exhibitions fifth year, was curated by Malcolm Thomson where he selected both well-known Australian Contemporary artists as well as some very talented emerging artists. The show evolved this year to include the ’12 Sculpture Award’ where students from the 12 local secondary schools where invited to submit & exhibit a piece of sculpture.
The Hon. Mr Jeffrey G. Kennett officially opened the festival on Friday 28th April at the Toorak Place to an audience of media, traders, artists, public & invited guests.
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Hon. Jeffrey G Kennett,
2006 Curator Malcolm Thomson & President Rob Sayer
Awards & Winners
2006
This years judges were Godwin Bradbeer & Les Kossatz, where four awards & prizes were given to the value of $15,500. The Toorak Place Award valued at $10,000, our biggest prize yet, was for the sculpture that demonstrated originality, & a high degree of technical & aesthetic competence. The Toorak Traders Award of $3,500 & The Leader Encouragement Award of $1,500 went to the second & third place artists, with the ’12 Sculpture Award’ of $500 awarded to a selected student.
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Sponsorship
Again this year’s exhibition was proudly sponsored by the City of Stonnington.
Toorak Place came on board also as a major sponsor. Other supporting sponsors were Nab Bank, Marshal White, leader Community Newspapers & Tok H.
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2006 AWARDS
& WINNERS |
Toorak Place Award $10,000
Brigit Heller ‘Autumn’
'12 Sculpture Award' $500'
Nonie Kay from Korowa AGS
'Shirt front'
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Toorak Traders Award $3,500
Dianne Coulter ‘Community Members’
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Leader Encouragement Award $1,500
Caroline Ierodiaconou ‘Yearning’
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| 2005
FESTIVAL OF SCULPTURE |
 The
fourth Festival of Sculpture set out to select and exhibit
over 100 pieces of contemporary Sculpture from artists
throughout Australia. 104 artists and their work were selected
from an enormous array of entries, and placed
in 104 shop windows of the Toorak Village.
This was the year our website www.tooraksculpture.com.au was
born, enabling not only Australian artists to enter but international
artists also. Curator Malcolm Thomson informed us that we
had entries from China, Holland and Austria. Thanks to the
help of website builders Newbrain in the Village, the Toorak
Sculpture Festival went global, allowing easier access to
the show for artists, media and interested people.
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The Hon Steve Bracks MP Premier of Victoria,
officially opened the Festival on Friday 29th April 2005
to over 250 traders, artists, media, invited guests and interested
people.
2005 Official Opening, Hon Steve
Bracks,
Malcolm Thomson,
Tracey Cammock and Tony Fialides
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Awards & Winners
2005
The City of Stonnington Sculpture Award
valued at $6,000 this year, was awarded to an artist whose
work demonstrated a high degree of technical and aesthetic
competence.
Two more substantial awards were presented,
The Worrells Motors
& Toorak Village Traders Award of $3,000 and a new ‘Innovation‘
Award valued at $2,500, sponsored by Brian & Thelma Richards
of Greythorn Galleries, 462 Toorak Road, Toorak.
Judges of
the exhibition were Robert Lindsay, Deputy Director McClelland
Gallery, and Dr Deanne Hardwick, Art Historian & Head
of Art, RMIT.
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Sponsorship
This years exhibition
was sponsored by the City of Stonnington, with supporting
sponsorship by local businesses:
Worrells Motors, Greythorn Galleries, Toorak Place, Toorak
Village Dental Care, Tok H Shopping Centre, Tok Corporate
Centre, Bakers Delight, National Private Bank, National Australia
Bank, Citylink, Yarra Trams, Biggin
& Scott Real Estate, and Toorak Rotary.
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2005 AWARDS
& WINNERS |
City
of Stonnington Sculpture Award $6,000
Faustas Sadauskas ‘Arka IV’
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Worrells
Motors & Toorak
Village Traders Award $3,000
Angela Dufty ‘One: Fourteen’
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Greythorn
Galleries ‘Innovation’
Award $2,500
Roman Liebach
‘Catching The Uncatchable’
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| 2004
FESTIVAL OF SCULPTURE |
 The
annual Festival of Sculpture strongly supported by the
traders & Toorak Village Traders Association, headed
by Tony Fialides & John Button, set out to gain as much
publicity and media coverage as the years before.
The third Festival of
Sculpture was curated by Malcolm Thomson, and from a list
of over 140 artist entries, Malcolm selected 91 Contemporary
Artists and their Sculptures to exhibit in 91 different shop
locations in and around the whole of the Toorak Village shopping
centre.
The Hon Mr. Peter Costello, Federal Treasurer
and Member of Higgins, officially opened the Festival on
Friday 31st April 2004.
The exhibition attracted a large number
of high quality sculptural works from established and emerging
artists from Australia. It also inspired the local traders
to work together as a group to promote an event, bringing
a large number of interested visitors to the Village.
Sponsorship
The
exhibition was sponsored by the City of Stonnington, with
supporting sponsorship by local businesses: Worrells Motors,
Henry Buck’s, Greythorn Galleries, Toorak Village Dental
Care, Tok H Shopping Centre, Tok Corporate Centre, Toorak
Place, ANZ Bank, Westpac Bank, National Bank, Commonwealth
Bank, Bakers Delight, Haigh’s Chocolates, Biggin & Scott
Real Estate and Toorak Rotary. |
Tony Fiaildes and the
Hon. Peter Costello at the 2004 opening
Awards & Winners
2004
The City of Stonnington Sculpture Award valued at $5,000 was
awarded to an artist whose work demonstrated a high degree
of technical and aesthetic competence. Next was The Toorak
Village Traders ‘Emerging Artist’ Award of $3,000.
A new award
was introduced this year called the ‘Peoples Choice‘ Award
valued at $2,500, sponsored by Brian
& Thelma Richards of Greythorn Galleries, 462 Toorak Road,
Toorak.
Judges of the first two
awards were Dr Robert Treseder, Director Australian Academy
of Design, and Nicole Durling, Curator Contemporary Arts
of Sothebys. |
2004 AWARDS
& WINNERS |
City
of Stonnington Sculpture Award $5,000
David Shepperd ‘Spirit Boat’
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Toorak
Village T.A. ‘Emerging Artist’ Award $3,000
Brendon Taylor ‘Growth’
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Greythorn
Galleries ‘Peoples Choice’ Award $2,500
Helen Dean ‘Suspended In Time’
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| 2003
FESTIVAL OF SCULPTURE |
 Following the
success of the first Festival of Sculpture, the committee
of the Toorak Village Traders Association decided to mount
the Festival again in May 2003 and to make it an annual event.
Malcolm Thomson, Director of the Band
Hall Gallery at Kyneton, was appointed as the 2003 curator.
Malcolm selected 68 works by 52 artists, exhibiting in 54
shop locations along Toorak Road and the arcades.
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Ms Winsome MacCaughey,
Executive Director of the Australian Business Arts Foundation,
officially opened the festival on Thursday 1st May 2003.
Ms MacCaughey, in her opening speech, commended the Toorak
Village Traders and the Stonnington Council for their recognition
of the importance of cooperation between business and the
arts.
The 2003 Festival of Sculpture was nominated
for the ‘Sensis Small Business Award’ at the Australian Business
& Arts Foundation (ABaF) Partnership Awards.
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Awards & Winners
2003
Two awards were planned but three were actually presented, as this years judges,
found the quality of work so high that two winners of the City of Stonnington
Sculpture Award were chosen. Both winners shared in the prize of $5,000. Judges
were Liz Presa, Senior Lecturer VCA and Ken Scarlett, Curator of 2002 Sculpture
Festival and Arts Writer. |
Sponsorship
The exhibition was sponsored by the City of Stonnington, with
supporting sponsorship by local businesses: Worrells,
Henry Buck’s, Greythorn Galleries, Toorak Village Dental
Care, Tok H Shopping Centre, Tok Corporate Centre, Bakers
Delight, Haigh’s Chocolates, Biggin &
Scott Real Estate and Toorak Rotary. |
2003 AWARDS
& WINNERS |
City
of Stonnington Sculpture Award
Gemma Nightingale ‘Dress’ $2,500
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City of Stonnington Sculpture
Award
Vera Moller ‘Bush Bush No 3 Kusamarama’ $2,500
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Worrells & Toorak
Village Traders ‘Emerging Artist’ Award
Kate Just ‘Uniform’ $3,000
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| 2002
FESTIVAL OF SCULPTURE |
 The
first Sculpture Festival curated by Ken Scarlett featured
61 sculptural works by 50 Australian artists. 45 shop windows
along Toorak & Grange Roads were used. Dr Gerard Vaughan,
the then Director of the National Gallery of Victoria, officially
opened the Festival on Wednesday 1st May 2002. The exhibition
attracted a huge number of visitors, extensive media coverage,
and sparked discussion of sculptural works as well as exciting
the traders.
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Sponsorship
The exhibition was sponsored by the City of Stonnington, with supporting sponsorship
by local businesses: Worrells, Michael Yeates &
Co, Henry Buck’s, Tok H Shopping Centre, Tok Corporate Centre,
, Greythorn Galleries, Haigh’s Chocolates, Bakers Delight and Biggin
& Scott Real Estate.
Ken Scarlett |
Awards & Winners
2002
The first Festival began with three non-acquisitive prizes
donated by three local identities and art collectors - Rae
Rothfield, Loti Smorgon and Sandra Velik, all donating $2,500
each. Consulting with Ken Scarlett, the three winners of the 2002
Awards are below. |
2002 AWARDS
& WINNERS |
Bill Perrin ‘Cavity 1999’ $2,500
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Shona
Nunan ‘Arrival 2001’ $2,500
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Peter
D. Cole ‘Landscape Figure 2, 2002’ $2,500
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© Copyright
Toorak Village Sculpture Exhibition
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