"Auckland - a Sir Peter Blake memorial"

Auckland has some truly stunning sculptures (not enough) but some truly stunning works. It's my belief however that since the loss of the tree from One Tree Hill we do not have an iconic shape, piece or image that stands out as uniquely Auckland, a statement that contributes to and relates to the diverse society that is Auckland today, so developing a work that would celebrate Sir Peter and provide another gift to the city in his name seemed appropriate."Auckland - a Sir Peter Blake memorial"

Auckland has some truly stunning sculptures (not enough) but some truly stunning works. It's my belief however that since the loss of the tree from One Tree Hill we do not have an iconic shape, piece or image that stands out as uniquely Auckland, a statement that contributes to and relates to the diverse society that is Auckland today, so developing a work that would celebrate Sir Peter and provide another gift to the city in his name seemed appropriate.

As many people noted when the "All Blacks" rolled out their new Haka, it was representative of who the team is today. It clearly was important to create a work that has the past, future and the present all encompassed, a piece that represented all the diverse groups that are our community and would provide for visitors a way to understand us better. A place of gathering for Aucklanders to chill, pass time, just ponder, a piece that truly represents "The City of Sails".

This project started out 2 years ago from drawings done when developing a new sail design for team New Zealand. The design stuck and now has blossomed into this concept of a wind sculpture of shaped polished stainless steel designed scatter and gather light and sing as the breeze passes around and through it.

Historically all Kiwi's sailed here, it is part of our heritage. The Gennaker sail shape used represents Auckland city with the holes representing the individuals and richly different communities that have resulted from these migrations.

The large holes swirling upwards from the bottom represent the Polynesian community who are the bass sounds of the community, they give us place names customs and sayings, plus provide deep binding to the land, sea and sky. At the top swirling down from the North are the European community who have added higher sounds and light from the North to the city and then from the top to the side are the Asian community who add a lighter sounds again to richen the mix.

There are holes along the very bottom and at the very top to represent all the other people from places as far away as Scandinavia and South America that have made their home here. When they all combine to sing in the wind they make the song of a vibrant diverse city.

The "Koru" the holes form are to promote growth of the city. The polished outside throws light across the landscape evenly due to the shape and on the inside the finish is by heat annealing (changing the colour) of the metal till it goes like a rainbow the same as a Paua shell, like Auckland all the colour is really on the inside beneath that shinning exterior.

From an engineering standpoint the project began as a hundred year piece, with the belief that Auckland is likely to meet at least 2 cyclones within that period and that the sculpture be there after each of those events. Geoff Duffy Associate Dean Associate Dean Engineering Research at Auckland University has discussed the project with the engineering faculty which met with their approval and we are now exchanging information prior to setting up meetings to in their words ''get a plan rolling". They have acoustic and engineering design facilities as well as an excellent wind tunnel to ensure we tune the piece so that it remains in tune and of a volume as not to distress the local community on a stormy night, additionally they have the skills in materials an metallurgy to build it. Also support has been offered by the International Nickel Institute, about which more information can be found here, www.nickelinstitute.org

As with any large icon, we anticipate reproductions of the shape in postcards, posters, clothing, jewellery pieces and 3D models and children's toys may be quite popular and generate substantial income over time, so many concepts have been developed, or are in development to take advantage of this to provide ongoing charitable funding.

Accordingly it is the intended to gift, one third of copyright control and revenue to The Sir Peter Blake Trust to further Peters work in leadership youth and environmental education. More info can be found here. www.sirpeterblaketrust.org

The second third control and rights will go to the Department of Conservation to assist in funding their work.

The final third control I would retain voting rights to retain some say in how the image is portrayed however all income from this third would be distributed to charity in 5 year renewable terms, this is to provide tenure to the charity and allow the flexibility to embrace new technologies as they become available. The first recipient would be to assist in the distribution of LifeStrawtm, a new technology portable personal water filter that can supply up to 700 litres of safe water (a years supply for an individual) from putrid and dangerous sources for less than USD$2 per person per year. More info can be found here, http://www.lifestraw.com/en/high/maincont2.asp

Using my sailing connections I am in the process of securing underwriting offshore sufficient to commence the project however ultimately it is expected the work be funded with public donations and a media plan for this is almost completed

Ideally it is preferable to fund this from direct donations with a certificate to recognise the gift and provide participation in the installation of the work for all the people of Auckland and New Zealand as well as the worldwide sailing community. Preliminary focus studies show $5.00 per certificate is most acceptable and a website is currently undergoing draft discussions for information and payment facilities.

This has all moved on quite quickly Jenny Gibbs has offered her support so has Larry Robbins the CEO of The National Maritime Museum and Mark Orams Executive Director of the Sir Peter Blake Trust has now offered all possible support and assistance with legal contacts etc, as much as possible given the strict constraints the Trust and he as Director must meet.

Like many people I was fortunate enough to have Peter once shake my hand and tell me I'd made a difference, if possible I'd like to make a difference again. So many people have offered to contribute it's clear that if I can get more of the right people on board, this challenging, exciting and complex project can be completed possibly even for the 6th anniversary of Peters passing in December 2007.

Thanks for the time in reading this and I would be delighted to discuss any questions or assistance regarding this project.

Kind regards

Chris Toal
wellwork@xtra.co.nz
DDI 378-4038