Sculptures return for Rural Day
Taniwha, horses and giant eagles sculpted from scrap iron, wire and recycling are just a few of the creative critters popping in to Feilding.
The Kimbolton Arts and Sculpture Trust will put on an art exhibition for Feilding’s Rural Day tomorrow.
The show will include a debut display by Kimbolton fibre artist Maggie Duff, alongside the most creative and cunningly made masterpieces from April’s Kimbolton Sculpture Festival.
Sculpture Trust chairman Tony Waugh said the exhibition on Kimbolton Rd, near the Rose Bowl Cafe and Manchester Square, would give Rural Day visitors the chance to talk to the sculptors and artists about their work. The sculptors would be happy to discuss how they built their creations, and give a few tips on sculpting with recycled materials, Waugh said.
Entries for the 2019 festival won’t open until the end of October, but Waugh recommended anyone keen to give it a go to start thinking about their potential creations.
‘‘As a first-time sculptor, it took me more than 100 hours to weld an entry for this year’s competition. So, you do need a bit of a lead in.’’
The New Zealand Rural Sculpture Awards are held as part of the festival each April, and the organisers are encouraging 30 nearby schools to take part next year.
Festival organiser Stewart Morton said although the awards were a national event, there would be several youth categories exclusive to Manawatu¯ entrants next year.
The organisers hoped to make the event a real family day.
‘‘We want young people to see their world with different eyes.
‘‘The competition encourages up-cycling and recycling.
‘‘It’s about seeing what there is already around you that could be used to say something about rural New Zealand.’’