OPINION: Missed chance to invest in our own art

POLARISING: The Ascension sculpture - the Angel of the North of Masterton? Or waste of money?

I'm not a fan of the Ascension sculpture. There, I said it.

Honestly, it looks like a prop from a Michael Bay film -- something Bruce Willis would use to dismantle the giant asteroid in Armageddon.

But, that's the beauty of modern art, no? Eye of the beholder.

Since the Aratoi Foundation announced plans to bankroll Ascension, crafted by internationally-renowned artist Neil Dawson and suspended above Masterton's northern roundabout, letters have been flooding into the Times-Age.

Mostly negative -- the sculpture is ugly, it will be distracting for drivers, and, most concerning, it's a waste of money. Especially with Trust House and Lands Trust Masterton having contributed sizeable grants.

I see their point. Surely there are schools, local sports teams and not-for-profit organisations who could have benefited from the $200K contributed.

I can see what the Aratoi Foundation is going for. Ascension, not dissimilar to Featherston's Windgrass sculpture, is eye-catching. It's bold, dramatic, hard to miss.

Public art works, whether they be 8m high bulrushes which move in the wind or spraypainted murals, help lift the aesthetic of a town. They bring colour and vitality, celebrate that which the area is known for and, in some cases, provide a message to consider.

Something as stirring as Ascension could become a talking point among visitors, thus helping raise Masterton's profile on a national level.

Plus, it is a coup for Masterton to have someone whose work features at the Centre Pompidou in Paris design a piece of art for us. Neil Dawson did go to school in Masterton as a youngster, so Ascension could be seen as a celebration of a Wairarapa person's successful career on the world stage.

However, I wonder if this is a missed opportunity. Wairarapa is home to many visionary, innovative and highly-skilled artists. If we want to boost Masterton's' image with public art, why not invest in our talented locals? Why not give those currently living and working here the opportunity to make their mark on their communities and sell them to the world?

I think Carterton has the right idea -- an outdoor gallery featuring 23 painted murals by members of Wai Art, most of whom are from the area.

What about something similar in Masterton?

A sculpture garden, for example. Installations from the likes of Sean Crawford or Niko Thomsen, known for their striking, politically charged works. Murals celebrating what is unique to our hometown.

And, if locals are receiving commissions, that money stays in Wairarapa and contributes to our local economy.

Who knows? Ascension could be the next Angel of the North -- people loathed that idea, and now everyone knows where Gateshead in the North East of England is. It could well put Masterton on the map in a positive way.

But I do think, where $286,000 is concerned, we need to be investing in our own.