Challenging $100,000 sculpture shapes up
Work on a $100,000 sculpture set to be the focal point of south Invercargill has begun, proving challenging for the firm set with building the masterpiece.
In a large warehouse-type building in Invercargill, Tale of Southland – Murihiku is beginning to take shape.
Designed by Hawke’s Bay artist David Trubridge, the imposing whale tail made of metal is the winning piece of a sculpture competition held by South Alive last year.
Tasked with building the mammoth piece of art is the team at Sheet Metalcraft. Fitter/welder Neil Feaver said he had not worked on a sculpture before, but in some ways it wasn’t much different from work he had done. What made it more challenging, however, was the fact that ‘‘nothing is straight.’’
When
asked whether he had to use different techniques, or how building the sculpture was different to his usual work, Feaver replied: ‘‘there have been a few more swear words thrown about.’’
Cliff Broad, a retired Invercargill businessman, now living in Queenstown, is the benefactor who came up with and funded the project.
His daughter Alison had the chance to check out progress on the sculpture on Thursday.
‘‘It’s all very exciting seeing it start to take form,’’ she said.
As metal workers build the sculpture itself, contractors have been preparing the site of its new home.
It will stand at 7 metres high and span 10m over the entrance to Russel Square on the corner of Dalrymple St and Elles Rd.
South Alive co-ordinator Janette Malcolm said a template of the base of the sculpture had been made to prepare foundations at the site. ‘‘It might not look like it now, but it is definitely going to be a piece of fine art.’’
It is hoped the sculpture will be constructed by the end of June, when it will be sent to another local business to be painted. That process will take between two and three weeks, she said.
Meanwhile, progress was continuing on South Alive’s upgrade of the south Invercargill shopping area.
Malcolm said there had been a delay for some of the furniture and ‘‘hubs’’ to be built in the area, but the majority of work would be finished by the end of June. ‘‘The light poles, surfacing and planters will all be done, but there will be a delay until August for the rest of the work.’’
Road works would finish by the end of the month, she said.