Fruits of the Garden, a sculpture by Paul Dibble, is very similar to a work of his which will be unveiled in Havelock North next month. Photo / Supplied
Fruits of the Garden, a sculpture by Paul Dibble, is very similar to a work of his which will be unveiled in Havelock North next month. Photo / Supplied
Despite the unveiling still a week away, a new sculpture set for Havelock North has already garnered mixed reviews.
The bronze cast sculpture, The Garden 2002, depicting Eve's nude torso (navel to knees), golden apple and falling leaves, will be unveiled by Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy at a site outside the Havelock North i-Site on May 5.
The work, created by Paul Dibble, will stand almost 4 metres high (including the plinth) and more than 2m wide. At night the sculpture and its surrounds will be lit.
It has been donated by the Mills Family Charitable Trust, a life patron of the Hawke's Bay Museums Foundation Trust, to the MTG Foundation which requested the piece be installed in Havelock North.
Local resident Margaret Burgess said she did not see the need for it.
"I'm not keen on nudity of any sort in public places. I know in earlier centuries there were a lot of nude statues around but I don't see that there is a place for it."
Another local resident said it was an "odd thing to put in such a visible spot".
"It is inappropriate to put in the centre of town. What was wrong with the tree that was there before?"
Havelock North Business Association president Jane Mackersey said it is an incredibly fabulous opportunity.
"It is privately funded not public, and the business association representing Havelock North is delighted to be offered the opportunity to host it."
National MP Maggie Barry talks with Fran and Paul Dibble at the unveiling of their Kowhai flower sculpture in 2014. Photo / Warren Buckland
Mackersey said it was part of the MTG's policy to get public art into the public space.
"This is in with this criteria and the council are on board with it so it is not one of those things that need a lot of time spent on public consultation."
Art educator and critic Roy Dunningham believed people should wait until the sculpture had been unveiled.
"Dibble is a very fine sculptor and I'm delighted that we're getting one of his works here.
"If you consult everybody on everything you get nothing," he said. "It's not costing people a penny; it is a gift. I can't really see a problem."
For those concerned about the depiction of nudity, Dunningham said it was "seriously abstract".
"This is 2018, it's not 1918. Surely we've grown up a bit more than that."
Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said the statue was a very welcome addition to the stunning works already on display in the village.
"We have a strong commitment to making the most of our places across the district by preserving our architecture and landscape, and the addition of public art."
She said it was wonderful to have a sculpture modelled on Dibble's bronze sculpture Fruits of the Garden in Frank Kitts Park, overlooking the waterfront in Wellington City.
"Gifts such as this from MTG and the Mills Family Trust are much appreciated, and add substantially to the vision of the Landmarks Trust which focuses on celebrating and adding to the beauty of our district."
