Susie Bleach and Andy Townsend were awarded the 2014 Australian National University, School of Art, Sculpture Residency prize for Sculpture on the Edge on 1^st March. The award Judged by architect Phillip Cox and Head of Sculpture at ANU, Wendy Teakel attracted a very competitive field form established and emerging sculptors. The winners are husband and wife creative team based in Braidwood NSW who are known for their allegorical works made from found and constructed steel forms. The judges noted the poignancy of “The Plot Thickens” where at a close reading this disarmingly bucolic scene with trees, horse and bird on a crafted steel table is disturbingly broken. The horse has a broken leg and the trees are pruned severely; death sentences for horses and trees. Last year Susie and Andy lost their studio to a fire and the opportunity to work with the facilities and community in Sculpture at ANU during their residency will greatly assist them and their creative pursuits.

Other sculptors associated with the ANU School of Art included former Head of Ceramics, Alan Watt, who was recognised at the annual prize by winning the Bega Valley Shire Council major prize of $10,000.

Whilst still making ceramics, Watt’s prize winning work measured at 5 metres high and was fabricated in steel. It is set to be mounted in the town of Bega as part of the award. The work is indicative of a practice that includes ceramics, steel, stainless steel and cast bronze.

Janet Long, Alumnus of the Sculpture Workshop, was awarded $1000 for winning the Jindabyne Lakelight prize.

Graduate of the PhD program, Amanda Stuart, also held a pop-up exhibition in a local shopfront.

Sculpture on the Edge is on until March 10. For visitor information see the Sculpture on the Edge website.