Gillie and Marc’s giant hippo wins two major Bayside Arts Festival awards
Published May 2019
A Gillie and Marc sculpture of a larger-than-life hippo has taken out the major prize category of the Bayside Arts Festival.
Come out, Come out Hippo, Wherever you are, that brings the plight of the world’s endangered animals to life, won both the Sculpture Acquisition Prize and the People’s Choice Award.
The amazing work by Sydney-based artists Gillie and Marc Schattner is expected to go on permanent display at Cook Park, Kyeemagh, Mayor Bill Saravinovski said.
The artists encourages festival-goers at Sculptures @ Bayside to get close to the work; “to touch him, get to know him”, believing physical touch is the most powerful way to form a connection and to develop a loving bond with the world’s most endangered animals.
“The Bayside Arts Festival has been embraced by the community and continues to grow,” Cr Saravinovski told those gathered at the award ceremony at Baker Street Studios, Banksmeadow last night.
“This is the second year of our $50,000 Acquisitive prize. It is one of the richest in the country and this year it attracted over 45 entries.
“This festival would not be possible without help from the community and I would like to congratulate the winners and thank everybody who has participated in the event.”
Other big winners on the night were Mohamed Khaki who took out the CamerArt first prize and Nauha Dabboussy the Visual Arts winner.
This year’s Bayside Arts Festival featured competitions, exhibitions, forums, workshops, theatrical performances, public art projects as well as a series of cultural events around Bayside.
The Bayside Art Awards are proudly sponsored by Sydney Airport, Cooks River Alliance.
