Allens’ People’s Choice & Kids’ Choice Winner

Left to right: Jin Lin – Group Managing Director, Aqualand, Rebel Penfold-Russell OAM, Hon. Gabrielle Upton MP, Joel Adler, Hon. Honourable Don Harwin Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Special Minister of State, Minister for the Public Service and Employee Relations, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Minister for the Arts and Vice President of the Executive Council, Dave Sharma MP, Alice Spigelman AM, Ross Drinnan and David Handley AM. Photo Charlotte Curd.

Sculpture by the Sea and Allens is pleased to announce Sydney-based artist Joel Adler as the recipient of this year’s Allens’ People’s Choice Prize of $5,000 for his reverse periscope sculpture Viewfinder. Adler also received the Kids’ Choice Prize of $5,000 donated by Rebel Penfold Russell OAM, as voted by the children visiting the exhibition.

On receiving the award, Adler said: “The focus for me in creating Viewfinder was how humans interact with our natural environment, winning the Allens’ People’s Choice Award is confirmation that people want to engage with their environment in ways that they haven’t before. This is a huge push for me to continue exploring and trusting crazy ideas.”

Joel Adler with Hon. Don Harwin NSW Minister for the Arts at Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2019. Photo Charlotte Curd.

This is Adler’s first time exhibiting at Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi, he’d previously visited the exhibition every year as a child and has aspired to be part of it ever since.

Said Founding Director, David Handley AM, “What an outstanding work by a first-time exhibitor. Joel received an unprecedented one in three votes from the exhibition’s visitors. The artwork deserves a permanent home. It would be wonderful in so many places including the end of a jetty, the top of a building or a cliff top, garnering considerable attention for the location.”

Congratulations Joel!

Joel Adler, ‘Viewfinder’, Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2019. Photo Charlotte Curd.