Welcome to the 7th Minerals to Art Festival
The next Minerals to Art Festival at Mount Somers is currently being organised. Watch this space!
The hills will be alive with the sound of metal on stone when the ‘Minerals to Art’
Limestone Sculpting Symposium gets underway next. The Symposium is to be held again in conjunction with the two yearly ‘Minerals to Art Festival,’ and the organizing committee is excited at the prospect of again staging events which have become a popular and ongoing part of the Ashburton District’s calendar.
Mount Somers stone is a dense, hard limestone enabling clean, sharp lines and a good degree of polished finish to be achieved. With limited quantity still available it is sought after by sculptors and works in Mount Somers stone are highly prized for the quality and durability of the stone.
The 2010 Symposium aims for a mix of master and emerging sculptors. Up to 12 artists will be selected to participate and interest is high. Each sculptor will choose stone for one major work, and time permitting, may produce further smaller works for sale at the Festival. A feature of the Mount Somers Symposium is that hand tools only are permitted.
“It is wonderful to see that your amazing community still has so much unity to hold another ‘Minerals to Art.’ I would be honoured to take part. I am thrilled that new sculptors will be part of such a wonderful experience.” said internationally experienced Christchurch sculptor Bon Suter, who has worked at each of the previous Mount Somers Symposium.
The venue for the Symposium is Vincent’s quarry, Ashburton Gorge, where the stone occurs; a pleasant thirty-five minute drive from Ashburton or ninety-five minutes from Christchurch. In this picturesque and historical setting locals and visitors are invited to witness the unfolding works of art over the seven day period.
All sculptures will be transported to the Mount Somers Domain on the evening of Friday 5th. March ready for display over the Festival weekend, and will be auctioned at the Festival on Sunday March 7th. at 3.00p.m.
In conjunction with the 2010 Sculpting Symposium the Minerals to Art Committee are offering the second ‘Jo Acland Memorial Sculpting Scholarship’ to artists with some experience in sculpting and a desire to extend their artistic skill in the medium.
The Scholarship was established by the Minerals to Art committee in memory of the late Jo Acland who died in 2007.
Scholarship applications close on December 1st 2009 and the successful recipient will be announced December 6th. Further information may be obtained by contacting mineralstoart@eventcreation.co.nz.
The aim of the Festival and Symposium is primarily to promote the beautiful Mount Somers area, the foothills, and the high country; a geologically unique area, distinguished for the wide range of mineral deposits occurring in close proximity.
The Symposium aims to:-
Promote the appreciation of art in the outdoors
Provide an exclusive atmosphere for the creation and acquisition of works of art
Provide the opportunity for the public to interact with the artists directly.
Promote collaboration and sharing of knowledge between artists.
Encourage and extend emerging artists.
Sculptors are asked to register their initial interest in the symposium by contacting;
Or
Rhonda Huggins - 03 303 9884