Sculpting in honour of Cook and Tupaia
The journey James Cook and his Polynesian navigator Tupaia made nearly 250 years ago is the inspiration behind the theme of this year’s Whangarei Sculpture Symposium.
The sculpture that best depicts the ‘journey’ theme will be unveiled as part of the region’s 2019 national Tuia — Encounters 250 celebrations next year, commemorating 250 years since The Endeavour reached New Zealand.
Jane Hindle, co-chair of Te Au Ma¯rie Trust, which is responsible for Northland’s Tuia — Encounters 250 programme of events and activities, said the theme reflected first encounters and meetings, as well as the great traditions and history of exploring and navigating that Polynesians and Europeans undertook in their journeys to discover Aotearoa.
Once the symposium is over, the winning piece will earn its creator $4000, and will be installed at the Bay of Islands airport in Kerikeri where it would “welcome not just visitors to our incredible region, but also those returning home.”
“Part of our kaupapa is to create legacies for our region that will remain long after the commemoration events are done,” Ms Hindle added.
“When the opportunity arose to work with Far North Holdings to provide a statement piece of art for the planned upgrade of Bay of Islands airport it made sense to partner with Creative Northland’s Whangarei Sculpture Symposium for this significant piece of work.”
The sculpture would be officially unveiled as part of Northland’s Tuia — Encounters 250 commemoration events.
Remaining artworks would be auctioned off at the end of the symposium.
Sculpting commenced after an official welcome on Saturday, with down tools down at 1pm tomorrow. The symposium will re-open at 2pm on Thursday 22 March so the public can have one last look at the sculptures before the auction at 5.30pm.