By Elly Nederhoff (Secretary Te Puna Quarry Park)
The latest addition to the collection of artworks in Te Puna Quarry Park is a 5-piece sculpture made by Tauranga artist Isaac Weston. It was unveiled on a sunny day in June with a festive morning tea, enjoyed by about 50 people of the Quarry Park community and guests.
This new piece of art is quite different from the many other sculptures in the Park. Isaac uses fire, water, air and acids to reveal the hidden elements of metal. This particular artwork, named ‘The Life Journey’, is made from local railway sleepers and polished copper. The result is a stunning contrast of light and darkness, and of rough texture with refined patterns.
The bonus of working with a local artist is that his artwork is accessible for the public via his studio in Tauranga. Information about Isaac’s artwork can be found on his website: www.reworkit.co.nz
A great thank-you goes to the sponsors of this art project: Western Bay of Plenty District Council, who gave Quarry Park a grant from the Creative NZ’s Creative Communities Scheme, and to Annie Hill of Creative Bay of Plenty for facilitating the process.
‘The Life Journey’ is placed where it catches the sun nearly all day and where many visitors can enjoy it. To view ‘The Life Journey’, you just follow the main track in Quarry Park for a few hundred meters and you’ll find it diagonally opposite the mosaic figurine family.
Te Puna Quarry Park is located in the foothills of the Kaimais, off SH2, about 6 km out of Bethlehem. It was a desolate quarry until volunteers started developing it in the late 1990’s. It is now a stunning park of 32 hectares, full of adventures for kids and fun for the whole family. It features a wide assortment of beautiful trees, shrubs and flowering plants, native and exotic, as well as ponds, an amphitheater, butterfly house, structures, sculptures and much more.
Te Puna Quarry Park is a public park, open all daylight hours. It is managed and maintained by a dedicated group of volunteers, under the direction of the Western Bay of Plenty District Council. Admission is free – donations are welcome.
