Sign of the times for Nelson's Kleine
By Nelson Daily Staff
By Timothy Schafer, The Nelson Daily
Nelson’s Denis Kleine won the best in show (bronze II) in the gala awards for the Castlegar Sculpturewalk
Kleine’s Peace Sign took the award as well as the People’s Choice Award when the first Sculpturewalk held its awards at the Element Bar and Grill in Castlegar on Saturday night.
Four pieces have sold out of the 2010 exhibition, said organizer Patrick Field, and they have secured new sponsors for growing the program from 17 to 25 pieces for 2011.
“None of this could have happened without the artists and their talent,” said Field. “We had a sold out audience and several of our sculptors were able to attend including Kleine, Peter Vogelaar (Winlaw), John Mckinnon (Blewett), Louis-Marc Simard (Salmon Arm), and Osamede Obazee (Nigeria).”
In all, there were 1,597 people who voted.
Here are the results of the Best in Show Awards and People’s Choice Awards:
Louise Peterson of Colorado won the Best in Show for High Five, while Kleine won Best in Show Bronze II for Peace Sign. Best in Show Bronze III was won by Susan Geissler of New York for Mom Can I Keep Him? and Best in Show Alternative Medium was won by Dana Parlier (New York) for Cubist Woman.
The Best in Show Alternative Medium II, Is This Love, was won by Nigerian-born Osamede Obazee and the People’s Choice was won by Kleine for Peace Sign, and Patrick McIvor was the People’s Choice II with Warm Welcome Home.
Castlegar’s program call to artists closes Nov. 15 for the 2011 show, so artists are encouraged to get applications in on time or designate a preference in the Partners Call to Artists that has been sent out.
There will be a $15,000 People’s Choice award prize next year because the City of Castlegar has decided the program’s performance has helped brand the community, said Field.
The City has signed a three-year agreement with Sculpturewalk to purchase the People’s Choice sculpture and support pedestal manufacturing as well.
For more information, see www.sculpturewalkcastlegar.com.
