City of Rockingham Castaways Sculpture Award winners announced

The winners of the City of Rockingham’s 2022 Castaways Sculpture Awards have been announced, with artist Aaron Fry taking out the coveted $10,000 Alcoa Major Award.

A number of artists were celebrated during an awards ceremony on October 22 at the Gary Holland Community Centre.

Mr Fry’s winning work Giant Boutonniere is an oversized depiction of a frangipani flower with a spray of smaller flowers arranged to look similar to a floral feature typically placed in buttonholes for special occasions like weddings.

Shaped from aluminium and salvaged scrap metal, the work is located under the Lookout at the Rockingham foreshore during Castaways so visitors can appreciate the work both from the beach and above.

The Roleystone-based artist said he was “simply overcome with joy” at the announcement, which represented recognition of his creative vision, craftsmanship and the tenacity required to create work of a high standard.

“It takes time, patience and hard work to master a craft, and to earn the respect of judges,” he said.

“To win above so many other fantastic works of art makes me proud and gives me encouragement to continue to strive for excellence on my artistic journey.”

Other winners included Bibra Lake artist Shaun Sawbridge who took home a $5000 innovation award for his piece Aqua Racer, a refurbished and reimagined Rolls Royce Avon jet engine used in aircraft in the 1950s and 60s for flights from the UK to Australia.

Golden Bay duo Sharon Baxter and Rachael Lemon won the Water Corporation Sustainability Award with Fanciful Floral Flurry, while Dr Piers Yates won the Maquette and Small Sculpture exhibition with his octopus-like sculpture made from old orthopaedic instruments and equipment.

The Local Resident Award was given to Ruth Acton for her piece Mech, a group of nine fantastical totems created with PVC reticulation pipes and aluminium.

City of Rockingham mayor Deb Hamblin took a moment to congratulate the winners and thank ongoing sponsors Alcoa, Water Corporation and Fremantle Ports.

“The quality of work submitted for Castaways in 2022 was of a very high standard and the city congratulates the successful artists for the outstanding level of creativity they have shown,” she said.

“Castaways is running on the Rockingham foreshore and at the Rockingham Arts Centre until Sunday, October 30, and we strongly encourage community members to visit the exhibitions.”

Castaways Curator Lyn DiCiero added it was great to see the steady stream of visitors to Castaways across the foreshore and Rockingham Arts Centre.

“It’s amazing to see the locations filled with visitors admiring the inventive and stunning sculptural works made by artists and schools who have all risen to the challenge of transforming recycled materials into objects of beauty,” Ms DiCiero said.

For more information, head to rockingham.wa.gov.au.