A Merry Christmas Chalice

Seasons Greetings

From Christchurch City Council

And the Neil Dawson Chalice

December 2009 Ajr

Up With the Birds

I was out photographing yesterday and just happened to arrive at City Mall at precisely the right moment as Christchurch sculptor, Neil Dawson and a team of orange-jacketed, hard-hatted workers were raising Neil's latest public sculpture, Sky Lens above the mall.

Cranes and sculpture coming together in one happy event and intricate patterns etched against the grey, broody sky - I couldn't have been happier.

That's Neil (above) taking time out for a quick chat.

The $140,000 laser-cut, aluminium work measures six metres across and weighs in at 160kg. Unfortunately for Neil and his installation team, the notorious Canterbury nor'west wind was gusting through the mall but they took the conditions in their stride and everything appeared to go to plan.

The sculpture features 'a series of interlocking paper darts' and has evolved out of a series of small domed wall works that Dawson exhibited around five years ago. "It usually takes about five years for the interior works to make it outside," he says, pausing to shout instructions to the crane driver. Despite an outwardly calm facade and regular chats with passersby, Neil says the installation of his giant works is by far the most stressful part of the process. This in fact, was the second attempt to get the work installed above the revamped City Mall.

I sat and watched proceedings for quite some time and was greatly amused by the conversations going on around me. A surprising number of people seemed to think it was a giant Christmas decoration being put in place for the festive season. When I mentioned that to Neil he just sighed. "Oh we've had it all," he laughed. "The guy from a nearby Chinese takeaway place came out and said he was going to call it The Leaky Wok; and someone else told me it looked like a giant IUD." For my part, I think it's great and I look forward to seeing it at night with the coloured spotlights illuminating the intricate matrix of shapes. I think it's a perfect companion for Neil's Chalice, just a street away in Cathedral Square. If you click on Neil's name in the label line below, you'll see other Dawson sculptures around New Zealand that I've written about previously.

Reflecting on Public Art

Okay, so this was a happy accident!

Neil Dawson's Chalice in Cathedral Square, Christchurch, reflected on the windrscreen of a nearby parked car. Another quirky visual art moment in the life and times of AJR.

Back at the Chalice

Cathedral Square, Christchurch. July 2009. Ajr

You only need to click on the word Chalice in the label line below this post to see that I am totally seduced by the silvery-blue tangle of pattern that is Neil Dawson's Chalice, which dominates Cathedral Square. I rarely walk passed it without taking a photograph, so I have it summer, winter, spring, autumn, night, day, rain and sunshine. People seem to either love it or hate it. Obviously I love it as a photographic subject - and for the way it stands apart from the surrounding architecture; the way it dwarfs the busy throngs of photographing tourists at its base; the way it catches and reflects the light; the way it glows in the dark; the way it stirs controversy. Isn't that what a good piece of public art is supposed to do? As far as large, egotistic art statements go, I think its a beauty.

The Chalice - Another View

Chalice, Neil Dawson, Cathedral Square, Christchurch. March 2009. Ajr

I was walking through the Square just as the sun was going down on Monday night and couldn't resist this shot of Neil Dawson's sculpture, Chalice - just a tiny upper corner of one of the city's most prominent art works. If you click on either Chalice or Neil Dawson in the label line below you'll be able to see the sculpture in its entirety.

Taking Control

Left: Chalice by Neil Dawson; Right: Airways New Zealand Control Tower. Ajr Jan 2009.

Here’s a picture of progress on Airways New Zealand’s new, state-of-the-art control tower at Christchurch Airport, which is due for completion in August 2009. Designed by Napier-based Paris Magdalinos Architects, the 45-metre $6 million tower will echo the form of Neil Dawson’s iconic “Chalice” sculpture in Cathedral Square. It will also control 150,000 air movements a year in and out of Christchurch Airport.

Peering Over My Shoulder

Cathedral Square, Christchurch. Jan. 2009. Ajr

As far as public sculptures go, this Terry Stringer bronze might be one of the most overlooked works in Christchurch. Yet oddly, it is in one of the most prominant positions in town - right outside the doors of Christchurch Cathedral, which receives thousands of visitors a week. Perhaps it is overshadowed by the dramatic architecture of the Cathedral itself; or maybe it is dwarfed by the more obvious, much bigger (and shinier) sculpture, 'Chalice' by Neil Dawson? And it is the kind of thing I WANT to overlook - it is kind of shapeless and ugly after all. That said, I do wish there was a little plaque somewhere with its name and artist information so people could at least find out more about it. Maybe there is. Maybe that's easily overlooked as well?

The Chalice x8

"Chalice" Neil Dawson. August 2008. Ajr

I sat in Cathedral Square the other day and watched people walking past Neil Dawson's "Chalice." I couldn't resist a snap or eight.

Chalice

"Chalice" by Neil Dawson, Christchurch. Ajr
I don't care what anyone says about Neil Dawson's "Chalice" in Cathedral Square, I love it!
I can't even begin to count how many photographs I've taken of it.
You'll see a couple more of this internationally-regarded Christchurch sculptor's work if you put his name in to the Search Box at the top left of this page or check www.ferns.co.nz