Artist chosen for Addington sculpture

MEDIA RELEASE Friday 13 February 2004

Artist chosen for Addington sculpture

Christchurch artist Leah Fraser-Henderson has been selected to create a sculpture for the Addington reserve at the corner of Lyttelton St and Lincoln Rd.

A Christchurch City Council project selection team judged Mrs Fraser-Henderson’s work the most suitable for the site from design concepts submitted by a shortlist of three artists.

The Council’s Maori arts advisor and member of the selection team, Paula Rigby said, “Leah’s work was chosen over other submissions because the concept was resolved in its design and complemented the site.”

A sum of $13,000 has been made available for the artwork from the Council’s Urban Renewal Fund and is being managed through the Spreydon/Heathcote Community Board. A further $5,000 is available for installation of the work. The sculpture is planned to be completed by the end of June.

Spreydon/Heathcote Community Board member and member of the selection team, Councillor Carole Anderton, said the Board was very pleased to assist in putting more artwork into the area. “We want to increase the amount of artwork in Spreydon/Heathcote and this is a fine example of what can be done.”

Other members of the Project Selection Team included the Council’s Beckenham community advocate, Barbara Ford and representatives from local runanga, residents groups, businesses, interested organisations, local artists, Hillmorton High School, and Addington Raceway.

Local artists were invited to register their interest in designing a sculpture for the reserve in October 2004.

As yet un-named, the reserve is historically significant for a number of reasons including the fact that it is important to Maori as a former mahinga kai area (place to gather food) and is well known for its mokihi, a special raupo canoe that was used in a former nearby stream. It was also once part of the Waimakariri River, home to Nairns Nursery and is in the same vicinity as Addington Raceway and the Showgrounds.

ENDS

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