Generous Stay will be an asset to Christchurch

On Tuesday, my spirits were lifted at the prospect of seeing two of internationally recognised sculptor Antony Gormley’s art works in Christchurch. How generous of him to gift a reduction in price to the people of Christchurch in recognition of what we have all been through.

Yesterday I was saddened by the views in The Press of five members of the public, all negative and ungrateful for this generous contribution to our city. Did nobody have a positive comment?

Gormley’s work is internationally recognised and will be such an asset to Christchurch, his Angel of the North, overlooking Gateshead, is a symbol of the resilience of the Geordie working class coal miners and shipbuilders laid off during Margaret Thatcher’s term at prime minister of the UK. I hope that his Stay sculptures will have a similar resonance, for Christchurch in the future.

SHEILA SINCLAIR

Opawa

Thank you

The work by British sculptor Antony Gormley touches the heart of our city in a way which has been conspicuously lacking in many other quarters. Thank you Antony.

PHILIP McFEDRIES

Redwood

Dramatic appeal

The Christchurch City Council got it right. Finally a commissioned work of art which goes beyond parochialism or cultural imposition. Stay is a superb work of art. Powerful and emotionally charged, Gormley’s piece has the dramatic appeal and the perfect setting to embrace all Christ-ecclesians. Much sooner than most naysayers think, it will become one of our favourite city icons.

EDUARDO BERNARDI

Middleton

Should have stayed

I’ll bet the majority of people in Canterbury are absolutely rapt with the discounted Gormley sculpture that our council and Cera have purchased on their behalf. I know I could hardly contain myself! I could possibly be a little presumptuous at this stage but I will follow this letter up in about a fortnight to let the readers know if I have benefited from the healing process that the sculpture emanates. With these powers, had we got it earlier, it may have played some part in stopping the exodus of most of the population in the east.

Our oldies have to limit their reading because of a 50 per cent increase in the council’s library lending rates, and here we have another $500,000 plus being allocated for the purchase of Stay. I would like to tell you where it should have ‘‘stayed’’.

WALLY WAKEFIELD

New Brighton