New sculpture brightens up township
New piece bought by Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom
Aglittery new sparkling sculpture that brightens up the Foxton township was revealed last Friday in Te Awahou Riverside Cultural Park.
The sculpture Bonsai Spheres was part of an exhibition in 2021 by Leon van den Eijkel and was on display in Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom’s Ma¯puna Kabinet Art Gallery back then and has since been bought by Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom.
The lucky unveilers were students of St Mary’s School, who won an art competition, organised by Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom.
Mary Kleinsman-Powell, principal of St Mary’s School, said, “The students love being exposed to stunning real art. Back in December the sculpture was brought into class, along with some paintings by Leon as well.
“We talked about Modernist art, and then the students got started on their own works — all about wha¯nau, bright colours and simple shapes. They did an excellent job and loved the challenge.”
St Mary’s School brought an art class into the gallery last Friday and listened to a presentation by Sherilyn Bury Vilela about her colourful installation on Foxton Beach: Kuaka Godwits and marine
life. “It was incredible to be able to listen to Sherilyn, not only about the innovative, colourful and creative artworks breathing life through the gallery and those around us, but also to be able to listen to the meaning behind the works and the environment that we are all a part of.
“The encounter and witness to all sculptured artworks builds and educates our knowledge and appreciation of the world of art and professional artists,” Kleinsman-Powell said.
Foxton Beach School also participated in the competition, with the winners honoured at school.
“The children got very excited, they have all done artworks based on block colour and family representations. Some were average, some good and some exceptionally amazing,” said teacher Frances McDonald.
Arjan van der Boon, marketing manager of Te Awahou Riverside Cultural Park, said, “We received funding to purchase a sculpture that acts as a way finder towards the river loop. This was generously provided by Manatu¯ Taonga’s Cultural Events and Installations initiative.
“We chose a work by Leon van den Eijkel from his Bonsai Spheres’ urban trees series. It glitters in awa blue and harakeke green from a distance, which attracts you to come closer.
“We’re right up there with Foxton becoming an arts and heritage town.
“Our Bonsai Spheres are only 3m high, however, in our cultural park visitors can delight in several impressive traditional Ma¯ori artworks and modern pieces, plus a 50m giant art mural that was designed in Amsterdam,” Van der Boon said.
The Wellington waterfront features a major work by Van den Eijkel, a 9m high urban forest of square cubes that move around in the wind. The base for the Bonsai Spheres was made by Preston North
from the Foxton Forge.
The Ma¯puna Kabinet Art Gallery inside Te Awahou
Nieuwe Stroom is host to ever changing artworks. The current exhibition showcases local works from the Te Awahou Arts Collective and is open until Sunday, April 3.