You don't need to be an expert on art to enjoy Sculpture in the Gardens this summer -- just be keen to explore, says Sarah Ell.
The biennial Sculpture in the Gardens was first held at the Auckland Botanic Gardens, by the Southern Motorway in Manurewa, in the summer of 2007-08. By the last show, the 2013-14 season, nearly half a million visitors enjoyed the works and their setting. Entry to the park and exhibition is free, and it is open all summer -- starting from tomorrow until March 6.
The 20 works, by well-known New Zealand artists such as Bing Dawe, Garry Nash and Jeff Thomson, were chosen by a panel made up of sculptor Richard Mathieson, landscape architect Rachel de Lambert and professional curator Linda Tyler. The selection is varied, accessible and frequently playful, with much to surprise and delight art explorers of all ages.
I had an early explore of the works before the official opening tomorrow, with junior art critic Natalie (aged nearly 3). It was a beautiful spring day, just to be at the gardens, and we frequently got sidetracked by little paths, gardens and glades in-between checking out the sculptures.
Several of the sculptures feature birds -- appropriate as Manurewa means "flying birds" in Maori.
Bing Dawe's Titipounamu -- A Necklace With Lost Gems sends a circlet of tiny riflemen soaring into the sky, while James Wright's Corten steel Ratiti Mya sculptures stalk like giant extinct birds into the Gondwana Arboretum of ancient plants. There are also stylised human figures which intrigued Natalie: the dancing couple of Llew Summers' To the End of Love, and Sam Duckor-Jones' upended 'Strong Men Point Their Toes. But her -- and my -- favourite piece is Lucy Bucknell's The Learning, where a little monkey sits nestled with its parent looking at a book.
John Edgar's Lens.
Some of the garden's collection of permanent sculptures appeal to young visitors too, including Jamie Pickernell's much photographed Bird Lady. Peter Lang's Camp site, a ceramic tent and brick dinghy had Natalie and a group of other visiting preschoolers climbing all over it.
For older kids there is a special kids' trail around the sculptures, with questions and challenges based around the artworks. Young visitors will also love the permanent Potter Children's Garden, which includes different ecosystems to explore and a pooping pigeon sculpture which memorably demonstrates how these birds spread seeds.
Seekis by Marte Szima.
Girl Buoys by Bev Goodwin.
To celebrate the official opening of the exhibition tomorrow, there will be live music, lei-making and print-making workshops and an artist-guided walk with curator and sculptor Richard Mathieson at 1pm.
Over the summer you can join free artist-guided walks each Sunday. There will be creative workshops for kids and adults, live music and artist talks throughout the season. Be sure to vote for your favourite piece, with the winner revealed on the closing day. There is also a writing competition for short stories inspired by the artworks.
Other parks
Noel Lane won an award for a glazed pavillion which is the gateway and resource centre for Warkworth's Brick Bay Sculpture Trail north of Auckland.
For a sculpture day trip, there are several great sculpture parks and gardens within an easy drive of Auckland.
The Brick Bay Sculpture Trail A short drive from Mahurangi East, Brick Bay has the advantage of being attached to a winery. The cafe and wine-tasting pavilion - the Glass House, designed by Noel Lane - is a sculpture in itself, and there is a children's playground to amuse little ones while parents taste.
The 2km trail, which is navigatable with an off-road pushchair, has around 45 sculptures set among native bush and farmland, and includes works by Paul Dibble, Tiffany Singh and Ray Haydon.
Kaipara Coast Sculpture Gardens Just north of Kaukapapa, the garden centre and cafe has children's play area too. Take the 1km meander through the gardens to view the sculptures, which are updated each November, so a new range of sculptures is currently on view.
Gibbs Farm Also north of Kaukapakapa this is the holy grail of sculpture parks: the private collection of multimillionaire businessman Alan Gibbs, with works by Chris Booth, Neil Dawson, Anish Kapoor, Len Lye and Bernar Venet, and a 6m-high corrugated iron giraffe by Jeff Thomson.
The park is open around once a month to the public, only on Thursdays, by prior bookings. All current spots up to May next year are already booked, so keep an eye on the website for new dates and to register your interest.
Waitakaruru Arboretum This sculpture park east of Hamilton is a former quarry, with more than 50 sculptures along a 2km nature trail.
The gardens are no longer open full-time but the owners are happy to accommodate visitors by appointment.
Other sculptures
This summer, make a point of exploring other sculptures around Auckland with the kids. Children experience art in a different way to adults: it's different in scale (to a very small person, some outdoor sculpture seems massive), and they are interested more in what it's made of, how it feels and how it can be climbed than what it "means".
Central Auckland is rich with public art which can be "experienced" up close by kids - that is, climbed on, tapped, poked and thoroughly investigated.
Auckland Council's public art team recommends these child-friendly artworks:
• Long Modified Bench by Jeppe Hein was recently moved from the Auckland City Art Gallery to Waitemata Plaza on the waterfront. The sculpture's roller coaster-like forms create places for adults to relax and children to run around and jump over.
• Wind Tree by Michio Ihara, in the Wynyard Quarter. Its reflection pond has become a popular kid's paddling pool.
• Sounds of Sea by Company (Johan Olin and Aamu Song), at North Wharf, is an interactive artwork based on the ventilation funnels and speaking tubes used on ships. Kids can climb inside, play and speak into them.
• Twist and Thief by Misery (Tanja Jade McMillan), on Karangahape Rd and Pitt St are two delightful bronze sculptures which tell local stories.
• Kids find it hard to resist climbing on Seung Yul Oh's shiny, brightly coloured, egg-shaped Globgob sculptures in in Osborne and Teed Sts in Newmarket.
• The playful Hau te kapakapa sculptures in Myers Park are a hit with adults and children alike. Check out the beaut new playground there too, it's a sculpture in itself.
Need to know
• Sculpture in the Gardens, Auckland Botanic Gardens, Manurewa, November 29-March 6. Free entry, 7 days, from 9am to dusk.
