Artist Statement
Rhonda Castle is a multi-disciplinary artist. Her work integrates bronze, Corten steel, sheet metal, sandstone, acrylic, timber and found objects. Rhonda explores and experiments with techniques and the use of these materials to produce sculptures that aim to convey emotional energy through form.
Primarily the sources of her work come from nature or a past memory which evokes a process of sketching, writing a passage of thought or taking a photograph to capture that ‘snapshot’ idea. From here Castle will play with form, materials and dimension, working with a Marquette for proof of concept. Each project often consists of multiple works, experimenting with a range of different media, grouped around specific themes and meaning. During research and production, new areas of interest arise and lead to the next body of work.
These works are, as she explains: “Each sculpture is the physical embodiment of a decision made along the way. The materiality, the process of making and the trace that is left behind, a true expression of everything behind those decisions — my feelings and imagination are laid to bare.”
Biography
Rhonda Castle graduated from National Art School (Sydney) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Major – Sculpture) and Adv. Diploma in Visual Arts – Hunter St TAFE (Newcastle).
Castle has exhibited widely including Sculpture in the Vineyards (Hunter Valley), Kangaroo Valley, Bermagui, Sculpture in the Gardens (Mudgee), Lake Lights (Jindabyne), Sculpture By the Harbour (Hunters Hill), Coal Loader Art Exhibition (Waverton) and many others throughout regional NSW.
Castle involves herself with many of the local community events on the Central Coast including being the principal organiser and curator of Sculpture at Kooindah, curating Sculpture on the Greens, Yarramalong Arts Trail and Forest of Tranquility. Castle has held workshops focusing on youth vocational activities along with Online Seasonal Youth Workshops with National Art School assisting tutors in delivering interactive Colour Workshops. She also facilitates and supports community workshops in sustainable management practice along with many collaborative works on the Central Coast.
In 2017 and 2015 Rhonda participated in the International Wood Symposium representing NSW, producing public art pieces that have been installed at Rylstone and Kandos (Mudgee region).
Castle also has Public Art pieces installed at Nelsons Bay and the Hunter Valley. She has been commissioned by the Resort Industry at Port Stephens for sculptures in a restaurant foyer, the Nelson Bay Koala Sanctuary, and for private collections within the vineyard grounds throughout Mudgee Region.
Prizes and Acquisitions
| 2023 | Waverley Woollahra Art School – 1st Prize – Printmaking Student Award |
| 2017 | Sculpture in the Paddock (Yass) – Winner of the 2017 Tuggeranong Art Centre Prize |
| 2017 | Sculpture in the Vineyards, Wollombi – Highly Commended Artist Prize |
| 2013 | Sculpture By the Bay (Nelson Bay) – Winner Acquisition Prize |
| 2013 | Sculpture on the Greens Kooindah Waters – Wyong – Major Stipend Winner |
Professional Engagements and Internship
| 2023/4 | Gallery Assistant @ Bobbie P Gallery – Terrigal |
| 2023 | Internship National Art School – Hill End |
| 2020/21 | Online Teachers Assistant through Covid Sessional Art Courses |
| 2017/14 | Curator Kooindah Waters Sculpture on the Greens |
| 2016/15 | Childrens Workshops Vocational Care Programs – Forest of Tranquility Ourimbah |
Collaborative Exhibitions
| 2023 | New Art’23 – Delmar Gallery – Ashfield |
| 2020 | Bush Picnic – Gallery 47 – Rylstone |
| 2015 | Nest and Nature – Bobbie P Gallery – Wyong |
Solo Exhibitions
| 2018 | Winged Fables –Tuggeranong Art Centre ACT |
| 2016 | Sydney Eye Hospital |
Public Works
| 2019 | Koala Sanctuary – Nelsons Bay |
| 2017 & 2015 | Mid-West Regional Council – Rylstone and Kandos |
Commissions and Collections
| 2020 | The Vintage – Golf Club – Hunter Valley |
| 2019 | Perisher Valley |
| 2018 | Kangaroo Valley |
Group Exhibitions
| 2023 | Sculpture on the Farm – Dungog Sculptures in the Garden – Mudgee Sculpture in the Valley – Kangaroo Valley |
| 2022 | Sculptures in the Garden – Mudgee Sculpture in the Vineyards – Wollombi Sculpture Bermagui |
| 2021 | Lake Lights – Jindabyne |
| 2020 | Sculpture in the Garden – Mudgee Sculpture in the Vineyards – Wollombi |
| 2019 | Artisans in the Garden – Matcham Sculpture in the Garden – Rosby Mudgee Sculpture on the Farm – Dungog Sculpture at Killalea – Shellharbour Residency at UNSW Research Station Fowlers Gap and Broken Hill Art Exchange Sculpture in the Valley – Kangaroo Valley Lake Lights – Jindabyne Sculpture Bermagui |
| 2018 | Sculpture in the Garden – Rosby Mudgee Sculpture in the Vineyards, Hunter Valley Sculpture at Orange Sculpture in the Paddock – Yass Winged Fables – Solo – Tuggeranong Art Centre ACT Wollongong Botanic Gardens |
| 2017 | Sculpture in the Garden – Rosby Mudgee Sculpture in the Vineyards, Hunter Valley Sculpture in the Paddock – Yass Sculpture By the Harbour – Hunters Hill Sculpture Bermagui |
| 2016 | Sydney Eye Hospital – Solo Exhibition Sculpture at Killalea – South Coast NSW Somewhere Down the Lachlan – Forbes Sculpture in the Paddock – Yass Sculpture at Kooindah, North Wyong Sculpture in the Garden – Rosby Mudgee Sculpture in the Vineyards, Hunter Valley Forest of Tranquillity – Ourimbah Sculpture By the Harbour – Hunters Hill |
| 2015 | Wood Symposium – Rylstone Gallery 47 – Group Indoor Exhibition – Rylstone Sculpture in the Paddock – Yass Bobbie P Gallery – Solo Exhibition – Wyong Rockdale Art Festival Sculpture at Kooindah, North Wyong Sculpture in the Garden – Rosby Mudgee Sculpture in the Vineyards, Hunter Valley Forest of Tranquillity – Ourimbah 5 Lands and Connections Exhibition Avoca Beach Sculpture By the Harbour – Hunters Hill |
| 2014 | Discovery Point, Tempe – Site specific exhibition Rockdale Art Festival Sculpture at Kooindah, North Wyong Coal Loader Art Exhibition Waverton Sculpture in the Garden – Rosby Mudgee Sculpture in the Vineyards, Hunter Valley Forest of Tranquillity – Ourimbah 5 Lands and Connections Exhibition Avoca Beach Sculpture by the Harbour – Hunters Hill |
| 2013 | Sculpture by the Bay – Nelson Bay – Winner Acquisition Prize Sculpture on the Greens Central Coast Grammar Art Show, Erina Heights Coal Loader Art Exhibition Waverton Sculpture in the Garden – Rosby Mudgee Sculpture in the Vineyards, Hunter Valley |
| 2012 | Mistletoe Winery, Hunter Valley Central Coast Grammar Art Show, Erina Heights Sculpture in the Vineyards, Hunter Valley |
| 2011 | Central Coast Grammar Art Show, Erina Heights |
| 2010 | Professional Artists Studio Trail, Newcastle, Warners Bay, and Raymond Terrace |
| 2009 | Butterflies Garden Wollombi group exhibition Professional Artists Studio Trail, Newcastle, Warners Bay, and Raymond Terrace |