Over 50 sculptures to feature in Rockingham's Castaways Awards

Entries for the 14th edition of the City of Rockingham’s Castaways Sculpture Awards have been finalised – with more than 50 sculptures set to light up the Rockingham Foreshore and Rockingham Arts Centre from Saturday October 22 to Sunday October 30.

Castaways is Rockingham’s signature arts and culture event, celebrating artistic innovation and environmental awareness.

It encourages the concept of recycling, with art as its vehicle of communication.  

This year there will be $26,000 in non-acquisitive prizes for artists, with the main Castaways Sculpture Awards Exhibition and the Schools Exhibition to be on display at Rockingham Foreshore.

The Maquette and Small Sculpture Exhibition will be held at Rockingham Arts Centre on Kent Street.

For the Main Exhibition Tuinna Blackie’s Castle in the Sand references fairytale castles, with highly intricate welding and details.

Tuinna Blackie’s Castle in the Sand. 

Janet Nixon and Ivor Zuvela have been inspired by childhood stories, with their quirky piece Gertrude, while Denise Pepper’s Halimedia is a riot of colour and design, making use of disused pizza trays.

Halimedia by Denise Pepper.

Emerging artist and orthopaedic surgeon Professor Piers Yates has created Orthopus, a strange metallic octopus-like creature, made from recycled discarded orthopaedic instruments and implants.

Meanwhile, Jan Mullen has created Patience, a miniature caravan made from used playing cards. 

For the third year in a row Castaways will have a guest artist, Greg James, to help exchange knowledge between experienced and emerging artists. 

Mayor Deb Hamblin said Castaways highlighted the City’s strong commitment to recycling and its growing reputation as a centre of cultural activity.

“Castaways provides artists with a platform to highlight their creative abilities and we look forward to welcoming community members and visitors from far and wide to this popular event,” Mayor Hamblin said.

“The City gratefully acknowledges the contributions and continued support from event sponsors Alcoa, Water Corporation and Fremantle Ports.” 

Castaways Curator, Lyn Di Ciero, said the works in Castaways were often poetic and thought-provoking, but also fun. 

“Castaways 2022 promises to be an exceptional show and visitors will not be disappointed,” Ms Di Ciero said.   

Prizes for each category in Castaways 2022 include: 
-    $10,000 Alcoa Major Award for recycled sculpture with an aluminium component.
-    $5,000 Innovation Award for the use of repurposed materials in an innovative or unexpected way. 
-    $5,000 Water Corporation Sustainability Award for artwork that supports the concept of sustainability in its message. 
-    $2,500 Maquette and Small Sculpture Award for excellence in small scale sculpture, creatively using repurposed materials. 
-    $2,000 City of Rockingham Local Resident Award to a local artist residing in the Rockingham district. 
-    $1,000 Fremantle Ports People’s Choice Award – Main Exhibition for the artwork that receives the most votes from members of the public. 
-    $500 Fremantle Ports People’s Choice Award – Maquette and Small Sculpture Exhibition for the maquette artwork that receives the most votes from members of the public.  

For more information visit rockingham.wa.gov.au/castaways  

Janet Nixon and Ivor Zuvela's piece Gertrude.