Tai Tapu Sculpture Garden earlier this year called for expressions of interest from artists for a new sculpture for their Permanent Collection. Around 30 proposals from NZ, Australia, America, Latvia and the Netherlands were received, many of which were high calibre, says Curator Melissa Reimer.
Three artists’ proposals were shortlisted for fuller development this year and all received $5,000 seed funding to enable them to do this. Congratulations go to Emma Camden, Phil Price and Virginia King.
The final proposals are due January 2025, with the winner announced in March 2025 at Tai Tapu Sculpture Garden’s 12th Annual Autumn Exhibition. The winning sculpture will be installed by March 2027.
The judging panel comprises Felicity Milburn, Head curator at Christchurch Art Gallery; artists Darryn George and Bing Dawe; curator Melissa Reimer; and Tai Tapu Sculpture Garden property owners, artist Annabel Menzies-Joyce and Peter Joyce.The entries were rigorously debated and judged against a number of criteria including originality, creativity, thoughtfulness, robustness and anticipated artisanship and execution.
“Artworks in this particular outdoor environment need to stand up to some climate extremes,” explains Peter Joyce, “and, simply by chance, the three works shortlisted share one thing in common: they’re all in steel.”
Melissa adds, “Ideally, the works should enhance the sculpture garden in their site specificity or compatibility with our ethos and mission. The property is an accredited Te Ara Kākāriki green dot: a project to identify and establish a corridor of native plantings and build community awareness around biodiversity. It’s no coincidence that many of the works in the Permanent Collection carry a strong environmental message.”
This second competition follows a successful first competition which resulted in an unprecedented three commissions, completed and unveiled in 2023 by artists Neil Dawson, Natalie Guy and Sam Harrison, respectively.
You can make an appointment to view the Permanent Collection or view online taitapusculpturegarden.co.nz/permanent-collection
Introducing the Artist Advice Bureau