Kinetic Sculpture Gifted To Marlborough

A Marlborough arts trust has offered a large kinetic (wind-activated) sculpture to the people of Marlborough with the suggestion that it be located on the banks of the Taylor River opposite the new theatre site.

The donation comes from the Coulthard Arts Trust, formed from a bequest from the late Mrs Dorothy Coulthard, one of the first New Zealand women to train as an architect and who subsequently worked for British Intelligence Service during WW2 before returning to New Zealand.

Mrs Coulthard moved to Blenheim in 1973, living here until she passed away in 2007.

One of the trustees, Willie Crosse, says she was a generous benefactor who loved this district and, having seen how public art had enriched the Wellington cityscape, she decided to leave a bequest for public art in Marlborough.

The trustees have found a sculptor, Grant Williams of Auckland, who is already experienced in producing large pieces of public art which sit gracefully within their environment.

The design proposed for the Taylor River bank is in stainless steel rising 10 metres high with a pair of leaf-shaped pods balanced on precision bearings designed to move gently with the wind. The pods will be four metres off the ground at their lowest point; higher than the underside of the Hutcheson Street bridge.

“We were looking for a design that would have broad appeal,” said Mr Crosse.

Grant Williams has completed commissions for private and public collections, including sculpture for Manakau City, the law courts in Whangarei, Westfield in Albany and Housing New Zealand.

It was also hoped that this donation might be a catalyst for the donation of other significant pieces of public art for Marlborough in future, Mr Crosse said.

At a meeting of the Council’s Community and Financial Planning Committee yesterday,

District Councillor David Dew described it as a very generous gesture and that, in principle, the site looked appropriate. However a full meeting of the District Council will be required to approve the location.