The attendance record for the biennial headland Sculpture on the Gulf exhibition has been smashed.

The three-and-a-half week event attracted more than 55,000 visitors to Waiheke Island to walk the spectacular Matiatia sculpture trail. That’s 10,000 more than the previous exhibition in 2013.

Target by James Wright got the nod from exhibition visitors taking out the Fullers People’s Choice Award and a $10,000 cash prize.

The highest price paid this year for a sculpture was achieved by Virginia King’s Garden of Shadows which fetched $75,000 equalling the price paid at the 2013 exhibition for David McCracken’s Traction and Transmission.

Wright’s work was a firm favourite alongside runner-up Stop the Clock by Jane and Mario Downes.

Target was a tribute to Wright’s five unsuccessful previous proposals for headland Sculpture on the Gulf. The sculpture not only hit the mark with visitors to the event, it also unearthed a buyer selling for $45,000.

Cushla Donaldson’s The Precariat’s received the $30,000 Lexus Premier Award at the Opening Gala last month.

headland Sculpture on the Gulf chair Margaret Malaghan is thrilled with this year’s exhibition.

“2015 has been a resounding success attracting not only nearly 20 per cent more visitors but also record art sales. It’s an outstanding achievement for a locally grown event that now has considerable international acclaim.”

The final weekend of headland Sculpture on the Gulf was particularly busy with Fullers putting on extra ferries to accommodate the number of visitors.

headland Sculpture on the Gulf numbers:

• Total visitors: 55,000
• Number of sculptures sold: six
• Highest price paid: $75,000 for Garden of Shadows by Virginia King
• Length of trail: 2 kilo metres

Sculptures sold:

• Virginia King Garden of Shadows $75,000
• James Wright Target $45,000
• Ioane Ioane The Return of Manuruhi $28,000
• Anah Dunsheath My Pic is My Bond $19,500
• Audrey Boyle The knot not and the knot now $10,000
• Sharonagh Montrose and Helen Bowater Crossed Wires $10,000
• A wide selection of smaller sculptures from both the headland Walkway artists and invited artists has also sold in headland Pavilion Gallery.

Ends

About headland Sculpture on the Gulf

headland Sculpture on the Gulf was established in 2003 by the Waiheke Community Art Gallery, and quickly became New Zealand’s premier outdoor sculpture exhibition.  The biennial event features 30 -35 major sculptures along a spectacular two kilometre coastal walk above Matiatia Bay on Waiheke Island and attracts visitors from around New Zealand and overseas.  More than 45,000 people attended the event in 2013; the headland Sculpture on the Gulf 2015 exhibition, which is free to the public, ran from 23 January to 15 February 2015.

www.sculptureonthegulf.co.nz

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Contact: Jack Wheeler, Pead PR, Tel: 09 918 5544, Mob: 021 0233 5803, email: jack@peadpr.co.nz