Elyssa Sykes-Smith, ‘Subsidium Structurae’, Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail. Photo Grant Hardwick
Organisers of the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail are calling for expressions of interest from artists living in or raised in the Eastern Riverina to create new artworks for the Shop Art Projects in the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail in Batlow and Tumbarumba.
As part of the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail, organisers have leased several shops in Batlow and Tumbarumba for artists to install site specific artworks to create another reason for people to visit the towns.
The artworks will change every 3-6 months. So far Sydney artist Marina DeBris created and London based NSW artist Elyssa Sykes-Smith have created shop art projects. Two new shop art projects are currenty being installed: Fiona Gavino’s ‘Air + Water’ in Batlow and Akira Kamada’s ‘Birth’ in Tumbarumba.
There are five indoor Shop Art Project commissions available for Eastern Riverina artists, with each artist to receive $7,500 to create the artwork including any travel or accommodation expenses. The selected works will be in place for a minimum period of three months.
Applications are open until 31 August 2022 by submitting an expression of interest to [email protected], including an introductory letter outlining your experience, your resume and 3–5 photos of previous artworks.
The expressions of interest will be reviewed by the Curatorial Advisory Group before artists are invited to submit a concept proposal, which will be reviewed by the Curatorial Advisory Group and a shortlist proposed to the Local Community Advisory Group to select the artists to create the Shop Art Projects.*
Local Community Advisory Group representative for Tumbarumba, Laura Fraumeni, said, “Elyssa’s installation has given a wonderful boost to the whole aesthetic of our main street in Tumbarumba.”
David Handley, Founding CEO & Artistic Director of Sculpture by the Sea and the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail, said, “This is a great opportunity for local artists or locals who want to come up with creative concepts to be included in shops in Batlow and Tumbarumba. Just like Sculpture by the Sea we are open to receiving proposals from people who are not professional artists or who have not studied to be artists. So, if you have ever thought about creating something, this might be the time.”
The Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail is created by the team behind Sculpture by the Sea at Bondi and Cottesloe beach in Perth and will continue to grow with new works set to be installed throughout 2022 and 2023.
For more information, visit sculpturebythesea.com/snowyvalleys/shopartprojects/shop-art-projects