[Photograph: Anton Forde sculpting the piece which is to become the Goldie Award]
Forde was recently honoured to have been commissioned to create a sculpture to be presented as the ‘Goldie Award’. Further information is contained in the award’s press release below;
Announcing ‘The Goldie Award’…
Connection with the land, the majesty of nature and a fascination with themes universal to all ‘first nation’ cultures; these are the greatest influences on local sculptor Anton Forde’s work.
So it came as no surprise, when commissioned by Heinrich and Posey Storm at Waiheke’s Goldie Vineyard and Goldie Room to create an award for the Waiheke Walking Festival, that Anton chose to carve a walking stick out of an old fence post. Not just any old fence post either, this post had been in use on this land for 120 years and before that part of a 500 year old tree.
‘After the ‘slash and burn’ policy of years past where a 500 year old tree would be cut down to make fence posts,’ Anton says, ‘it is good to see restoration, re-vegetation and regeneration happening all over the island by people like Bruce Plested, Don Chapple, Tony King-Turner and so many others’.
‘This award, this walking stick can represent and symbolise so many connections for us and whoever wins it will really be ‘Walking Back to Happiness’ says festival organiser Jenness Reeve. She also acknowledged the work of individuals and Local Boards past and present in the creation and expansion of the public walkway network which is now setting Waiheke apart as a serious walking destination.
There is a photography competition running throughout the nine days of the walking festival, entries will be exhibited at the Waiheke Community Art Gallery in the Small Gallery from 16 November to 10 December. Prizes will be awarded on the opening night.
Categories are:
‘Beauty of Walking on Waiheke’ – judged by Phillipa Karn
– overall winner receives the Goldie Award (to keep for one year), $250 cash and a Canon camera (IXUS 115 HS digital)
Photos taken on any walk throughout this Walking Festival
‘Quirky Waiheke’ – judged by Tony Ward
Winner of this category will receive a Canon camera
Photos taken on any walk throughout this Walking Festival
‘A Goldie’ Moment’ – judged by Emma Hughes
Winner of this category will receive a Canon camera
Photos taken during the Goldie Photography Wander on the Goldie Estate, Wednesday 31 October.
Entrants can submit up to three photos – maximum size 400mmx500mm (including mount), minimum 200mmx250mm, on a backing board, no glass, no frames. Post to Waiheke Walking Festival (Photography), PO Box 521 Oneroa, Waiheke Island, Auckland, 1840 to be received 10 November 2012.
Prize Draw:
Email your photos (72dpi) to feature in the online Gallery to info@waihekewalkingfestival.
Prize – two adult return tickets on Fullers Ferry (Auckland/Waiheke)