Art in the Trees

Like a Mirage

Hoisted Above Trees

"Ripple"

By Neil Dawson

On the Riverbank outside Waikato Museum.

June 2010. Ajr

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.

Looking Left, Looking Right

Wellington. April 2009. Ajr

I have dozens of photographs of "Ferns, the sculpture by Christchurch-based Neil Dawson, which hangs above Wellington's Civic Square, but these are two of my favourites - not so much for the work itself but for the little line of pigeons in the foreground, all turning their heads left and right in unison. It was as if one among them was giving the command. Just another of those quirky little moments that most people never see because they're too busy rushing about without ever really looking, without ever really appreciating the tiny details of life. For me, the beauty of life is in the detail - in the forgotten, the overlooked, the bypassed. www.ferns.co.nz

Round and Round in Circles

Christchurch. July 2009 Ajr I liked this work "The Sky Has Fallen" by Rebecca Rose 2008 - which currently sits outside the Arthouse Gallery in Christchurch. The irridescent blue was made all the more so by the dull, grey day on Sunday. Made in mild steel, this 1420mm diameter work was shown earlier this year in Sculpture Central Otago at Rippon Vineyards in Wanaka. For all that, who can create a 'work in the round' of this nature now without being labelled a Neil Dawson clone? www.thearthouse.co.nz

An Oldie But a Goodie

Wellington. April 2009 Ajr The sky was perfect blue when I went to photograph this sculpture outside the BNZ building in Willis Street. It's by Christchurch-based Arts Foundation 2003 Laureate Sculptor, Neil Dawson - whose work never disappoints when you're looking for a dramatic photograph.

It's been around for a long while now and Neil's work has changed a lot since this piece. But I still love it. You can see his other Wellington piece, "Ferns" by clicking on Neil Dawson or Ferns in the label line below. Or check out the cool little video about its making at www.ferns.co.nz www.neildawsonsculptor.com

More Art From the Capital

"Ferns" Neil Dawson, Civic Centre, Wellington. April Ajr

I can't resist - I have to bring you further views of Neil Dawson's terrific suspended sculpture, 'Ferns,' that is suspended above Wellington's Civic Square. I know it's been in place for a long time.; I know it's not new; but every time I visit the capital I see it afresh.

www.ferns.co.nz

A Trick of the Eye

How the eye can play tricks in the big city.

I loved the way Neil Dawson's suspended sculpture, FERNS appears to be hanging off the crane. A case of right place, right time. www.ferns.co.nz

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.

Suntrap

"Suntrap." Neil Dawson. Hastings June 2008. Ajr

It was overcast when I visited Hastings in Hawke’s Bay to check out the sculptures that have been installed there as part of the Stage 3 re-development of the central business district. That was a pity because Neil Dawson’s “Suntrap” lost some of its colourful brilliance to the grey day. Erected in 2002, this huge sphere – 3.6 metres in diameter and hoisted 6 metres off the ground – consists of six parasol-like shapes with negative spaces forming leaf shapes….as Dawson says… ‘if you want them to.’ Its brightly-painted surface changes colour with the changing light of the day and the angle of observation; and like most of this Christchurch-based sculptor’s work, it rarely fails to impress. A Dawson sculpture is seldom less than enormous as you’ll see if you look here or here. www.ferns.co.nz

Capital Arts

Images supplied by Flat Earth

I’ve said it once and I’m happy to say it again - Wellington is my favourite New Zealand city. For one thing the city has the most progressive public art policy in the country and because of its compact layout, the city is easy to discover on foot. Flat Earth has cottoned on to the capital’s potential as a vibrant arts and cultural centre and they offer the best range of small arts tours in the country. So don’t leave it all to the foreign tourists – join Mark Rogers and his team for the Capital Arts Tour (my personal favourite), which will introduce you to artists’ studios, leading contemporary art galleries, architectural icons like the Old St Paul’s Cathedral and to some of the many fabulous public sculptures including ‘Fruits of the Forest’ by Paul Dibble; ‘The Albatross’ by Tanya Ashken; “The Water Whirler” by Len Lye; “Ferns” by Neil Dawson; and ‘The Wellington Writers’ Walk,’ which celebrates the work of people like Katherine Mansfield, James K Baxter, Denis Glover, Maurice Gee and Bill Manhire. http://www.flatearth.co.nz/

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

Aerial Architecture

The Arts Centre, Christchurch 2008. Ajr

One of my favourite Christchurch public sculptures is one of the simplest (deceptively so) and it's one that’s been around the longest – this ‘aerial’ architectural form by Christchurch sculptor, Neil Dawson, at the Christchurch Arts Centre. I love the simplicity of its lines against the ornate Victorian Gothic architecture of the old Canterbury University buildings. The building shown incidentally, houses SOFA (School of Fine Arts) Gallery.

Fern Fabulous

FERNS, Civic Square, Wellington 2007, Ajr.

It doesn’t matter how many times I stand in Wellington’s Civic Square and gaze up, I’m always inspired by Neil Dawson’s shimmering “Ferns” – a site specific orb of fern leaves suspended 14 metres above the square. Christchurch-based Dawson has an international reputation for creating exciting, site specific works, among them, a major commission for the Stadium of Australia in Sydney, created for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. You can listen to Neil chatting about Ferns at http://www.ferns.co.nz/