Harbourview Sculpture Trail open to view
Opening of Harbourview Sculpture Trail on Saturday 3rd March on Te Atatu Peninsula.
The dramatic weather and the coming of the dawn made for a very special opening of the Harbourview Sculpture Trail on Te Atatu Peninsula on Saturday 3rd March.
Te Atatu means “Standing before the dawn” and at 6.30 am on a windy stormy morning a large group of people gathered to welcome in the dawn and celebrate the opening of the sculpture trail.
A big crowd of hardy souls assembled in the dark and were welcomed by the Te Kotuku Kapa Haka group from Rutherford College with their beautiful voices creating an amazing and very polished performance.
The rain passed by and we were able to have our speeches by Matua Matt, David Windler Chairman of the Te Aatatu Peninsula Business Association, Penny Hulse the Deputy Mayor of Auckland, Sally Lush the Curator, Barbara Williams and Linda Cooper both from Hospice West Auckland in relative comfort.
The amazing Gateway called “Sky Portal to Ascension” carved from 25,000 to 45,000 year old Swamp Kauri and Monterey Cyprus standing at over 4 m high and 3m wide by Kerry Strongman was opened when Penny Hulse cut the ribbon and the crowd walked through after a moving Haka by Te Kotuku.
A “Journey of Discovery “ unfolded as the guests wandered through the trail linking 45 sculptures created by 35 contemporary New Zealand artists which looked amazing in the moody, stormy, dawn light with atmospheric views across the Waitemata Harbour to Auckland City, the Harbour Bridge and Rangitoto Island beyond.
After a champagne breakfast the first visitors came through after 10 am and visitors joined the first, very informative curator tour, by Sally Lush with artist talks by Phil Bonham, Carol Green and Donna Willard-Moore. These curator tours will be held each Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 11am with 3 different artists and the curator talking each day.
This art event has been set up by Te Atatu Business Association with support from Auckland Council to enhance the environment of Te Atatu Peninsula and as a fundraising opportunity for Hospice West Auckland, whose purpose is to ensure all New Zealanders have access to the best possible hospice care at the end of their lives.
So come on down and enjoy this amazing "Journey of Discovery" on Te Atatu Peninsula.
The exhibition will run for 3 weeks from Saturday 3rd March 2012 until Sunday 25th March from 10am to 6 pm daily. Entrance $10 Adult, $5 Children 5 to 12, Under 5’s free. Seniors and groups of 10 or more $9 each, Family group $25.
Further information is available from http://www.harbourviewsculpture.com/
For further information and larger resolution images please contact Sally Lush (Curator)
E: harbourviewsculpture@clear.net.nz P: 09 420 4044 M: 027 260 9486