Wind sculpture loses stalks

SHEDDING PARTS: Featherston's wind sculpture is missing some of its rods, which are awaiting repair.PHOTO/ANDREW BONALLACK WTA110913ABWINDFEATURE

Featherston's wind sculpture, an 8.5-metre yellow fibreglass construction inspired by the grasses of the Wairarapa, is now without some of its parts.

The public artwork, created by Konstantin Dimopoulos, was installed late last year and had five of its rods taken out in July after a member of the public complained to the South Wairarapa District Council.

Council property and facilities officer Helen McNaught said the concerned citizen thought the fibreglass could injure passersby.

"The rods are fibreglass, so they were concerned about splinters coming out," she said.

The council inspected the rods, and, thinking there might be a "manufacturer's flaw", attempted to contact the artist, who is travelling overseas.

Last month, a second lot of the yellow poles were removed after they were reported to be lying on the ground, making a total of 14 rods now removed.

Staff at the local library, right near the sculpture, said they were "gobsmacked" and had not realised that any part of the sculpture was gone.

A Featherston library-goer said she had seen people pulling the rods down and hitting nearby parked cars with them.

Wairarapa police said the wind sculpture had come to their attention.

"We did have one recorded incident of the sculpture being interfered with," Sergeant Kevin Basher said.