Humphrey statue given a facelift
Katikati’s much loved elephant seal, Humphrey, who sits proudly at the Landing on the edge of the Uretara Stream, has had a new paint job.
The timber work of art sculpted by chainsaw artist Neville Warner in 1997 has created a lot of interest over the past two decades, even moreso now since Humphrey has colour, rather than his natural wood tone.
Being No 24 in Open-Air Art’s outdoor art gallery, the committee has ensured his surface has been re-stained for protection.
“Unfortunately Humphrey is coming near to the end of his life with between big and even bigger bits of rotten wood,” said Open Air Art chairman Steve Graveson.
“This means he has to be patched with filler and along with the damage some people have done, he has become a patchwork of filler and wood so couldn’t be stained any more. He has to be painted if we are to keep him at the Landing for a little bit longer. It is just coming up with the right colour,” he said.
The real Humphrey was a regular visitor to Katikati — Waihi Beach, Bowentown, Kauri Point, Tuapiro and the Uretara Stream between 1985 and 1989. The first sighting was likely in March 1984 when an elephant seal was seen at Mayor Island. He spent Christmas 1985 in this area, first seen up the Uretara Stream and then at Tuapiro. In March 1987 he was near Bowentown and in September 1989 was mooching among the mangroves in the Tuapiro stream. He apparently missed his own kind for he appeared to become enchanted by a cow for a time, following her quite a distance from the water. But of course, his attentions were not returned. Humphrey’s last visit was in October 1989.
Warner started the sculpture in 1996. He fashioned his recreation of Humphrey from a huge macrocarpa stump, finishing off the work with electric tools. Humphrey then began a year-long seasoning period before being finally positioned at the Landing. He has been carefully maintained by Open-Air Art ever since.