8 September 2004

Artstation shows off its new gates

People travelling along Ponsonby Road will now find themselves admiring Artstation’s new gates designed by local artist Andrea Low.

Last year three artists were asked to submit concept designs for the new gates.

Artstation manager John Eaden says the design brief specified that the new gates must relate to the environment and retain a visual link to the courtyard area, even when closed. Grey Lynn artist Andrea Low had the winning design featuring a steel frame and mesh to create a delicate screen between Ponsonby Road and Artstation’s outdoor area. The aged look and mars red colour of the artwork complement Artstation’s old brick building, formally a police barracks.

“Andrea responded to the brief by creating an artwork which complemented the Artstation building through the use of colour and materials, and alluded to the function of Artstation by incorporating a contemporary design. The design is derived from tapa, but it can also be traced to a diverse range of traditional and contemporary practises of pattern making,” says Mr Eaden.

The gates are constructed from aluminium mesh and aged steel, with an organic orange patina.

The new gates have completed a three-year landscaping project to transform the land around Artstation. The landscaping includes many sculptures, plantings, a pebble mosaic, paving and painting. Ends Artist Details: Andrea Low Lives in Grey Lynn and has MFA (Hons) in sculpture from the University of Auckland.

Presently Andrea is a lecturer at Elam School of Fine Arts. She has been a finalist in the Sculpture on the Gulf Award 2003 and the Wallace Art Awards 2002 and participated in the Pressing Flesh Exhibition at The New Gallery earlier this year.

ENDS

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