Birkenhead Library celebrates new artwork

A family-owned North Shore transport business celebrated its own birthday by recognising Birkenhead Library’s contribution to the community with the gift of a unique piece of art.

Birkenhead Transport commissioned the wall-hanging, Kauri Park to Soldiers Bay, by Alison Francis and the piece was recently unveiled at a ceremony attended by the company’s owners, the Inwards and Jakich families as well as local residents.

The company, which provides bus services in and around the North Shore, to Albany and the central city, wanted to recognise the library’s contribution to the community while celebrating its own 75th anniversary.

“We’ve had a long association with the library, and I was asked by the then North Shore mayor whether we would put on free buses for the new library’s opening,” says Birkenhead Transport Managing Director Robert Inwards.

“I said we could do better than that and after discussions with library staff a piece of art was suggested.

“We think the library is a huge community asset and we were pleased to be able to do something to mark its opening while celebrating our 75 years in business,” says Mr Inwards.

The impressive woven artwork hangs in the foyer of the new Birkenhead Library, which has won numerous awards for its design including three New Zealand Architecture Awards.

“I was delighted to receive this commission,” says artist Alison Francis, whose range of work includes scarves, wraps, sofa throws and fabrics for clothing.

“This is my second public commission and it’s very seldom that this sort of opportunity comes up. It happens more for painters and sculptors but not often for weavers. “

While the colours are Alison’s impression of the walk to Kauri Park and Soldiers Bay that she and the Birkenhead Transport families have lived near for several years, the zigzag form of the wall hanging was inspired by its location in the library foyer.

Made of sustainable bamboo fibre and metal framing, Alison used a complicated and time-consuming process in the work’s creation.

“Instead of dying the fabric after it was woven, I dyed the bamboo fibre before weaving so I had to pre-plan where I put all the colours.”

Auckland Council Libraries service delivery manager for North Shore Marion Read says, “We’re thrilled with the artwork and it’s taken pride of place in the foyer of the library.

“This is a wonderful legacy for the community and I can only praise Birkenhead Transport for their vision and generosity.”

Kaipataki Local Board chair Lindsay Waugh says Birkenhead Transport has been part of the story of Birkenhead and the Kaipatiki area for several generations and is one of our longest running local businesses.

“This generous donation is a wonderful reflection of their commitment to our community and provides a beautiful legacy for the generations to come.”