Urgent: Submissions needed to save Te Ngākau Civic Square taonga

Public Artwork Heritage are calling on pressing submissions to guard the enduring artworks in and across the Metropolis-to-Sea Bridge and Te Ngākau Civic Sq., Wellington. The general public artworks at present underneath menace are a few of the most recognisable artworks in Te Whanganui-a-Tara.

Within the Te Ngākau Precinct Improvement Plan now being consulted on, the strengthening and retention of the Metropolis-to-Sea Bridge (by artists Paratene Matchitt, Rewi Thompson and John Grey, 1993) isn’t introduced as an choice and is to be demolished. The Council is barely consulting on new choices to entry the waterfront from Te Ngākau. It’s also consulting on what it ought to prioritise in the course of the improvement of the remaining elements of the precinct.

The retention of the Metropolis Gallery Wellington and refurbishment of the City Corridor and Library are already properly underway, nevertheless, the Michael Fowler Centre by Warren and Mahoney is doubtlessly underneath menace.

Says Public Artwork Heritage of the legacy of the Sq. and surrounding public artworks:

“Conceived as an enormous out of doors room with its giant, purposefully designed bricked space as a gallery/stage flooring, public artwork was on the coronary heart of this imaginative and prescient. Kara Puketapu from the Tenths Belief was consulted on the brand new sq. and it was determined bi-culturalism can be greatest mirrored within the commissioned artworks by three senior Māori artists working on the top of their powers. Built-in into the precinct’s design, the ensuing works are a tangible reference to the previous, and an embodiment of this kaupapa. 

“Our analysis has clarified that your entire website encompassing the Metropolis-to-Sea Bridge, Te Aho a Maui Capital Discovery Place (together with Thompson’s elevated plaza maunga and paving that serves as its roof), the steps with Matt Pine’s Prow and Capital and forecourt of the sq. will be thought of one built-in architectural and sculptural set up.”

Affected works

Metropolis-to-Sea Bridge (x1) and related artworks (x3):

Paratene Matchitt, Rewi Thompson and John Grey, Metropolis-to-Sea Bridge (1993)
Rewi Thompson, Te Aho a Maui (1991)
Matt Pine, Prow & Capital (1992)
Athfield Architects, Nikau Palms (1992)

Te Ngākau Civic Sq. precinct artworks (x6): 

Toi Te Rito Maihi, title unknown (pātiki whāriki sample in brick work, principal a part of Civic Sq.), (c. 1991)
Neil Dawson, Ferns (1998/2018)
Mary-Louise Brown, Seven Steps to Heaven (1999)
Bruce Campbell, Axis of the Gate to Serendipity (1997)
Alan Hobbs, Pig (1995)
Jim Allen (TBC), Gibbs Memorial Fountain (1956)

Michael Fowler Centre artworks (x4):

Gordon Criminal, wall hangings (1983)
Gordon Criminal, banners (1983)
Jock McEwen with Prisoners of Rimutaka Jail and College students of Petone (Hutt Valley) Technical Institute, Te Pou o Tauiwi me Te Pou o Wi Tako (1983)
Artist unknown, triptych (discuss with the picture above). (When you have any details about this art work please contact Public Artwork Heritage).

Public Artwork Heritage has additionally reporrted that, throughout the Sq., Charlotte Fisher’s Reflecting Swimming pools (1991), Chris Sales space’s Silent Folks (1991) and Robert Franken’s The Solar Units the Stage to the Day and Naga, Defending the Historical Information (each 1992) have been additionally commissioned for the precinct however have since been decommissioned.

How one can make a submission

Full a web-based submission kind, obtain a submission kind, or accumulate one from any library. Electronic mail your submission to [email protected] earlier than 5pm Wednesday 13 November 2024. It’s also possible to ship an inquiry for an oral submission by way of the identical e-mail handle.

Public Artwork Heritage has ready a pattern submission kind right here, which will be borrowed from, altered, amended or tailored for additional submissions.