Artwork raises money for women's refuge

Lake Rotorua artist Joe Kemp took six weeks to produce a major piece of artwork representing the strength of women for an art exhibition in aid of Women's Refuge.

His piece entitled Matau a Maui (the fish hook of Maui) stands 3.5m tall and will sit in the outdoor feature at the New Zealand Sculpture ONShore, which is a premier biennial exhibition held at Fort Takapuna Historic Reserve on the shores of Devonport from November 8-18.

The 2010 event attracted more than 18,000 visitors.

Mr Kemp has entered the major piece, plus four smaller pieces, to be showcased in the inside area of the exhibition.

He said he was proud to support women and had chosen the fish hook as his main piece as legend states Maui made the fish hook used to bring up the North Island from his sorcerer grandmother's jaw-bone. The theme of this year's exhibition was the beach or the Year of the Menagerie, which the fish hook fitted well with, Mr Kemp said.

"I support women to the max,'' he said.

"There isn't enough being done at the end of the day so I support them. I'll do anything to support women and children and that's what it's all about.''

New Zealand Sculpture ON Shore features the work of 110 invited artists from all around New Zealand, including Charlotte Fisher, Paul Hartigan, Peter Lange and Paora Toi Te Rangiuaia, as well as emerging artists.

It supports Women's Refuge, with the proceeds from art sales donated to supporting the programmes offered to women and children.

Exhibition organiser Joe Stockman said about a third of the sculptures on show this year featured creatures.

They included a life-size elephant, schools of eels, a whale, gulls, frogs, domestic garden birds, a sealion, a bull, Chihuahuas and a birdman.