Art panel unleashes monster in Cuba precinct

NEWS RELEASE
25 July 2007

Public art panel unleashes monster in Cuba precinct

Andrew Shaw was secretly harbouring his desire to decorate the brick-coloured box on Toi Pōneke’s rooftop, when the Council’s Public Art Panel requested proposals to seemingly do just that.

Entitled All-devouring-art-beast, Andrew’s proposal was selected from several entries.

“They wanted an art work to decorate the façade of the arts centre to draw more attention to the place. I saw this as the perfect opportunity to carry out the work and was thrilled to have my idea chosen,” he says.

Like a jack-in-a-box Andrew Shaw’s creature will rise bold and fierce and full of surprises, fighting against the many southerlies it will face on the roof of Toi Pōneke, Abel Smith Street.

“It’s as bold, fierce and surprising as some of the best of Wellington’s emergent cultural scene,” says Public Art Panel member and Dominion Post art critic Mark Amery. “Andrew has in effect created a character for Toi Pōneke, but it’s also a navigational beacon for the arts centre and the scene in general and a strident symbol for Wellington’s creative intent.”

Andrew received a grant of $10,000 which will pay for the concept, the materials and his time to paint the All-devouring-art-beast.

Andrew grew up in Wellington, graduating from Massey University Wellington in 2004 with a Bachelor of Design, majoring in Illustration. He has worked with some of New Zealand’s best directors and creative talents, including Oscar-winning art director Grant Major. He can often be found at his Swedish drawing desk in Studio 20 Wellington Arts Centre, where he has been since the centre opened two years ago.

All-devouring-art-beast will be launched in August. The work adorning the centre will change every four months over the next 12 months.

“This bold work of art will reflect the dynamic activity within the building,” says Public Art Panel Chair and the Council’s Director of Community Services, Wendy Walker.

“We’re looking for other Wellington artists to propose a new art work to follow on from Andrew’s.”

ENDS

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