29 Aug Finalists chosen for the 2018 Rotorua Sculpture Symposium
Eighteen talented sculptors have been chosen to take part in the 2018 Rotorua Sculpture Symposium in November this year.
Picked from more than 25 entries, the finalists will spend ten days carving and sculpting pieces relating to this year’s symposium theme Ngā Wai o Rotorua – The Waters of Rotorua.
The biennial event has previously attracted sculptors from around the world and this year is no different. While the majority of carvers are from New Zealand this year’s finalists also include Thomas Luescher from Switzerland and three Iranian artists.
Symposium organiser, Rotorua Lakes Council Public Art Advisor Marc Spijkerbosch, has run the event since its inception in 2014 and thinks it gets better each year.
“I’m constantly impressed with the depth and breadth of talent that applies to participate in our event. The Rotorua Sculpture Symposium has earned a solid reputation within local and national sculpting circles so it’s a real coup to have such a strong international presence in 2018.”
“The symposium is a forum for sculptors to share ideas and techniques. It’s fascinating to watch these works of art evolve from a variety of raw and rugged materials. Once again, the sculpture symposium promises to be an event not to be missed”, says Mr Spijkerbosch.
The sculptors choose the material they carve with from Oamaru stone, Taranaki andesite or macrocarpa, with some combining several of the materials into their final design.
The Symposium opens on Friday 16 November and carvers work through the weekend and following week to complete their sculptures. On Sunday 25 November tools are laid down and judging begins for the Supreme Award winner who receives $10,000. The winning piece becomes a permanent part of Rotorua’s public art collection.
The remaining artworks will be placed in the Sulphur Lake Sculpture Trail for people to enjoy for years to come.
More information at www.facebook.com/Sulphurlakesculpture
2018 Sulphur Lake Sculpture Symposium finalists
| Trevor Nathan | Rotorua |
| Jamie Pickernell | Rotorua |
| Thomas Luescher | Switzerland |
| Maryam Sharifi Shoorijeh | Iran |
| Anna Korver | Taranaki |
| Jocelyn Pratt | Thames |
| Andrew Deadman | Auckland |
| Simone Jacquat | Wanganui |
| Oriah Rapley | Taranaki |
| Rory McDougall | Hokitika |
| Steve Molloy | Taranaki |
| Seyyad Hosseini | Iran |
| Amin Balaghi | Iran |
| Iwi Le Comte | Rotorua |
| Peter Akurangi | Rotorua |
| Natanahira Te Pona | Auckland |
| Bodhi John Vincent | Kapiti Coast |
| Claire Sadler | Hastings |
ENDS
For further information:
Kathy Nicholls, Communications & Marketing Coordinator,
Arts & Culture Division, Rotorua Lakes Council
P: 07 351 7831 C: 0276 741 898 E: Kathy.nicholls@rotorualc.nz
Image credit: Oriah Rapley carving The Goddess Energy Within, 2016. Rotorua Sculpture Symposium
Image credit: Claire Sadler carving Interconnection, 2016. Rotorua Sculpture Symposium
Image credit: Trevor Nathan carving Synergy, 2016. Rotorua Sculpture Symposium
Image credit: Phil Bonham carving Tihei Mauriora, 2016. Rotorua Sculpture Symposium