‘Expect flak’ over sculpture decision
A $100,000 sculpture trail in Taupō is set to get the go ahead but councillors should expect flak from some corners of the community given the “contrained financial environment”.
Councillors will discuss a recommendation to approve the installation of two sculptures at Riverside Park in Taupō, as part of a new sculpture trail on Tuesday.
Operations and delivery general manager Andrew Moraes said in his report to the meeting that while the $100,000 for the project had been approved in 2018 council could “expect a number of members of the community would be opposed to installation of the sculptures given the current constrained financial environment”.
Councillors were updated last December on the proposal to locate a new sculpture trail in Riverside Park, within the Tongariro Domain, which would see up to 21 artworks installed.
According to a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the council and the Taupō Sculpture Trust in 2020, the trust aims to “propose sculptures they believe would add to the artistic vibrancy of the district, with the council then approving their location”.
If approved by council, the trust would “like to begin creation of the trail by installing an existing sculpture known as ‘Flip’ (previously located at Colonel Roberts Reserve) alongside a new destination sculpture (formally referred to as Boom Boom) which would be especially commissioned for this site”.
“Flip” is a wind activated kinetic sculpture, and Boom Boom is a 7m-high sculpture consisting of a large rock made of corten steel on which will sit a dinosaur made of mirror polished marine grade stainless steel.
“As we have seen in the past, public art can be a contentious subject where differing views of specific installations are based on personal preference and taste,” Moraes said.
“While a strong communications plan would help the community understand that this decision is simply around approving the location of sculptures, using money carried forward for many years in the budget, we expect there would still be a level of disappointment from the community that council is allowing spending on public art at this time,” he said.
Moraes’ report recommended councillors approve the project because funds had already been allocated, and the two sculptures would “bring life to the new sculpture trail at Riverside Park which will add vibrancy to the district and enhance the public art collection”.
Future maintenance of the trail and its artworks would be up to the council, which also stated it could fund future art works on a case by case basis.