Kawatiri Sculpture Symposium

Kawatiri Sculpture Symposium

Project 2016-02-21 21:55:36 +1300

Want to help make Buller Beautiful? 

Support the Kawatiri Sculpture Symposium and go in the draw to win a sculpture!*

You can play a part in the rejuvenation of the Buller District and it's communities by supporting the Kawatiri Sculpture Symposium. Together we can make the Buller region a beautiful and attractive place to live and visit.

Buller Arts Development in association with the Buller Arts and Recreation Trust and Tai Poutini Polytechnic are hosting a 10 day sculpture symposium in Westport between 9th - 20th May 2016.

The symposium has been developed to assist in the cultural rejuvenation of Westport and the wider Buller region. Arts have been identified internationally as a major contributer to creating a healthy and vibrant community. The impact of which has flow on effects to regional economic development through providing a positive cultural atmosphere, attracting an educated workforce, tourism and business / industry investment.  

In the last 2-3 years Buller has been hit hard with a massive economic downturn, with large redundancies in mining, low dairy prices and the up coming closure of Holcim cement works. This injection of public art is critical in the cultural and economic transformation of the Buller area, enhancing our urban landscapes to take advantage of the increasing tourism industry and providing a positive environment for residents. 

The Kawatiri Sculpture Symposium is based around providing Tai Poutini Polytech - Hard Stone and Jade carving students an opportunity to participate in a real world scuplture symposium. These certificate and diploma students will work alongside over half a dozen established and local sculptors. Working over a 10 day period to create limestone, hardstone and wooden large scale sculptures, we expect that this will result in at least 12 large sculptures for placement throughout the Westport and wider Buller area. 

Guest Sculptors include:

• Rory McDougall
• Tony Manuel
• Merv Jury
• Grae Clement
• Rhys Hall
• Richard Evans
• Mady Gn (France)
• Tai Poutini Polytech Hard Stone and Jade Carving Students

*All Pledgers will go in the draw to win one of the sculptures produced during the Kawatiri Sculpture Symposium. The winning recipient will be given the opportunity to select one piece from a selection of the work produced. Transport of the completed sculpture will be the responsibility of the winning pledger.

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