Aucklanders are coming to really appreciate checking out sculpture in the outdoors after the incredible success of Sculpture Onshore and Sculpture on the Gulf. The show, Growth Industry, by a group of established and mid-career sculptors is an opportunist one. In April this year a fantastic venue was sighted during a school holiday family visit to the Auckland Botanic Gardens in Manurewa.

Image: Jim Wheeler'sFruiting Body.Aucklanders are coming to really appreciate checking out sculpture in the outdoors after the incredible success of Sculpture Onshore and Sculpture on the Gulf. The show, Growth Industry, by a group of established and mid-career sculptors is an opportunist one. In April this year a fantastic venue was sighted during a school holiday family visit to the Auckland Botanic Gardens in Manurewa.

Image: Jim Wheeler'sFruiting Body.It was an empty gallery space in the bold and inviting new Botanics Visitors Centre, 13m x 9m with a 7m stud, which opens to a public atrium and onto an expansive terrace: Incredible surroundings for a show of large sculpture. The approach was made and Kim Stretton from the Botanics was positive but the show had to be in September as there was a strong possibility that this splendid space would then be used as a shop.

Not often does such an opportunity arise, the chance to place an exhibition of sculpture in an aesthetically conducive environment in front of a large audience, most of whom will not be expecting to see such a show was too good to miss. Not a lot of time to organise a major group show but a group of 16 motivated sculptors have seized the chance to plant their creations at the gardens and have put this 3 week show together with kind assistance from a couple of businesses and of course the Botanics.

This is to be a diverse show of virtuoso medium to large scale sculpture in splendid surroundings, well worth a trip down the southern motorway and after you have enjoyed the sculpture there is the beautifulBotanics to take in.

"Growth Industry"

A show of sculpture

Auckland Botanic Gardens Visitors Centre

September 11 - October 1, 2005

Open daily: 9am - 4pm

David McCracken, Jeff Thomson, Chiara Corbelletto, Leigh Christensen, Jim Wheeler, Marte Szirmay, Barry Lett, David Guerin, Christine Massey, Fatu Feu'u, Neil Miller, Samantha Lissette, Richard Cooper, Greer Twiss, Andrew de Boer, Richard Mathieson