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Ever thought about making public art?

Ever thought about making public art?

What makes great public art? This Thursday evening Derek Thompson, our Manager of Parks and Reserves, will be giving a public talk at Bella Street Pump House on the theme Art In Public Places.

Derek's experience includes spending the second half of the 90s as Town Belt and Reserves Curator for Wellington City Council.

For those that don't know, the Town Belt in Wellington has its own Act of Parliament and is managed by the Curator on behalf of Council. Perhaps the most famous of the sculptures is the wind wand, but you may also have seen the kinetic wind sculptures between Wellington Airport and Hataitai. These enlivened the previously dismal public space and now it's not just interesting scenery to drive by but also a place where people enjoy walking. Derek was also involved in concepts known as "pocket parks" for temporary art installation.

Later, in London working for the London Borough of Southwark, Derek developed renovations in poorly utilized areas that had become targets for crime. Derek created bespoke playgrounds that regenerated these public spaces. Although, their popularity did have a few side effects: one of the parks was stolen overnight lock, slide and barrel.

Back in New Zealand at the start of the last decade, Derek recalls another installation while working as Parks Manager in the Hawkes Bay, where three trees needed their tops cut off. The location was a park with an artist's quarter, so when they cut the trees, they shaped and painted them to resemble paintbrushes, banded with copper.

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What's especially valuable for those interested in public art, is Derek's wealth of experience in guiding projects through Council criteria. Rather than coming from an artist's perspective, Derek will give insights from the practical installation experience working with public places.

The evening will be hosted by Host and public art sculptor John McKeowen, who is also the Vice President of Bella Street Pumphouse and Manager of the Seagull Centre.

If you have a passion for art in public places, you'll thoroughly enjoy the public talk Art in Public Spaces by guest speaker Derek Thompson, Manager of Parks and Reserves for Thames-Coromandel District Council.

Steampunk Sculpture Competition


Derek will also show some great images of steampunk art as a segue into the launch of Steampunk The Thames' Steampunk Sculpture Competition.

Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction and sci-fantasy featuring advanced machines and other technologies based on the steam power of the 19th Century and taking place in a historical period or a fantasy world. It is a way of celebrating Thames' industrial past and marrying it with an innovative future.

The challenge is to create a permanent piece of public art.

If you're an engineer, fabricator, smithy, machinist, erector, constructor, welder, salvage artist, assembler or sculptor, you're encouraged to have a go in the Steampunk The Thames Sculpture Competition.

This is a fabulous chance to release your hidden talents, show off your true artistic potential, bring out your inner playfulness and untapped ingenuity.

The winning entry will be installed in pride of place in Thames and receive a prize and bragging rights.

The entry should be child safe, weather proof and not be able to be carried off in the dead of night.

Details of entry and dates will be anounced on the night.

When and where?

Thames' Bella Street Pumphouse

(cnr of Bella and Waiokaraka Streets)

5pm Thursday

ends

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