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Introduction to In Site Out 2005
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In
SITE Out 2005 is a three week exhibition of site-specific works in the
natural undulating 17 hectare site of the Orange Botanic Gardens. The
exhibition and accompanying activities follow the highly successful event
held in November 2003 as part of the three year Stories of the Central
West project, curated by Gavin Wilson This year the story unfolds further
with thirty two works being selected from the more than 70 proposals from
50 artists representing a variety of creative art forms. They include
painters, sculptors, stone engravers, poets and writers, knitters and
weavers and ceramicists who just love to enfold trees with clay.The artists
come from all over the central west and western region and represent a
wide cross section of professional and emerging arts practitioners. There
are TAFE fine arts students, teachers and mentors who participate side
by side. It is for this reason that there is also a public program and
a professional development component to this event. In this way, it will
be possible for other artists and students of art and the general public
to connect to the ways in which artists and the arts play an important
role in the interpretation of the environmental concerns of our environment.
The role of Arts OutWest to promote, facilitate, educate and advocate for arts and cultural development for the communities of the central west of New South Wales includes the coordination of regional projects such as this.We hope that In Site Out continues to attract the interest of the public and artists alike and can play an important role in furthering the cultural life of the central west region as a whole.
Hannah Semler, Executive officer Arts OutWest Inc
A note from Alan Sisley
An Outdoor Sculpture Festival is one of the most enjoyable art activities. Most people who stroll through a parkland sculpture exhibition stop and admire the works, will read the labels, and will take time to understand what the artist is saying.I think visitors spend more time looking at artworks in an outdoor setting than they would in a gallery space. Works placed outdoors look completely different, and gain a new context and depth of meaning when surveyed, or surveying, their outdoor domain. The famous case of Henry Moore’s King and Queen sculpture, and its utter transformation when seen in the moorland setting for which it was originally intended is the classic example of how context can make or break the work.The public can recognise the way that works feel “right” for a space, and appreciate that time has been taken to ensure that sculpture complements their beloved parklands rather than dominating them. Good art often brings a new way of seeing to the familiar, and carefully placed sculpture has a particular ability to draw attention to hidden beauty and formal conjunctions that even frequent visitors to a place will overlook. Insite Out, as the name implies, is a site specific sculpture festival, meaning that the artists specially made the work for the site, and took into account the general ambience of the Orange Botanical Gardens, the way the public moves though the gardens, and the way landforms, trees and water will interact with the sculpture and act as a “frame” for the work. The Curator had the further responsibility of working with the artists to make sure that their plans are feasible, and that each work will complement another it may be nearby. As a result, Insite Out looks and feels very good indeed.
The curator and artists have done an excellent job, and as one wanders through the gardens, spectacular at this time of year, there is a feeling of excitement and the lure of discovery at what small or large sensation will be just around the corner. This is the second Insite Out, and as a member of the selection panel on both, I can say that Insite Out seems assured of a future, because the important people, the sculptors, are supporting the concept and entering their work. It was a much more difficult job to select works this time, because of a large increase in quality entries. The entries are coming from further afield, and I suspect that word will spread even further next time. The selection panel found that we were obliged to exclude some entries by Central West artists who were in the exhibition last year, but the exhibition actually has a stronger local component, attracting artists who perhaps were adopting a wait and see attitude and did not enter the first Insite Out. I am sure also, that the dynamic personality of Curator Gabriella Hegyes had a lot to do with ensuring the presence of the best local sculptors and the excellent placement of the works. I congratulate her for the huge amount of work she has put in to Insite Out. I wish to thank the sculptors in particular. Most of them came to inspect the site firstly, then they made the work and then they did their own freight and installation, and for very little financial recompense. Sculptors are a unique group, and they contribute greatly to our way of life in Australia. I also thank Nigel Hobden and Orange City Council staff for their support of the project.It is of course an expensive business to undertake such a large and diverse project as Insite Out, and we are most grateful to those sponsors and Government agencies who have recognised the importance of the exhibition.
Alan Sisley, Director Orange Regional Gallery