Tai Tapu Sculpture Garden (TSG) Exhibition 2017

Landscape can act as an elegant and stimulating setting for sculpture such as the famous Rodin Museum in Paris which displays famous works of that artist and sculptor in an expansive, well developed enclosed outdoor space with trees and gardens, wide paths and fountains.

We have a similar gem in New Zealand. Annabel and Peter Joyce have dedicated a hectare at the front of their property in Cossars Road, Tai Tapu (out of Christchurch, on a back location, near the road to Akaroa), to an evolving sculpture garden set among recently established and developing native forest plantings.  The exhibition, which opened on March 3, continues for a month and contains permanent works as well as many for sale. Visitors are invited to picnic on the lawns and to enjoy the sculptures between 11am and 3pm in the weekends (Entry fee of $10.00 per person over 16 years).

The exhibition was curated and organised by Melissa Reimer and exhibiting sculptors such as Alison Erickson of North Canterbury, Ben Foster from Kaikoura and Llew Summers were at the opening.

A central focus in the exhibition was Llew Summers’ Haven of Souls, some 39 stone, bronze and concrete pieces, as well Virginia King’s Navigational Orb, a stainless steel sculpture with delicate Celtic and Polynesian designs.  My favourite sculpture was Mandy Cherry’s Joass Poi Pāruru: poi shelter, which also had an intriging audio feature. In addition, some of the permanent exhibition including the small glass sculptures in the Goddess Grove by Annabel Menzies-Joyce and friends: glowing and translucent against the bush backdrop, Ben Foster’s Infinity and Neil Dawson’s golden steel Vortex are well worth a visit.