Sculpture designs to commemorate WWI

8 September 2014

Budding young sculpture designers from the Taupo District will reflect on World War I in a Taupo Museum exhibition this month.

The display will feature planning drawings and marquettes from the finalists from the annual local high schools sculpture competition organised by the Taupo Sculpture Trust. The theme for this year was chosen by the trust because of the upcoming centenary of the war. The exhibition is on from September 13-23.

Taupo Sculpture Trust chairperson Claire Anderson said this was the second year the competition had run, following a very successful inaugural competition in 2013. The idea was to reach out to our talented youth and give them the opportunity to design a sculptural work that may be chosen to be taken to full scale by the trust and displayed in public as a permanent work of art, she said.

Mrs Anderson said the response was impressive, with plenty of entries coming from Turangi and Taupo. Two sculptures were chosen to be created - Tuwiri by Shaney Warena of Tongariro School and Butterfly by Tessa Ralfe of Taupo-nui-a-Tia College. The trust was looking for designs that would settle well into our environment, be robust and be meaningful, she said. It is hoped both sculptures will be completed by the end of the year.

The theme of World War 1 was chosen this year to help students come up with designs that could be used in the commemoration of the war's centenary next year. It will be exciting to see what turns up this year, Mrs Anderson said. Hopefully another may be chosen to be taken to full scale and put on display in the Taupo District.

Taupo Museum is open seven days from 10am to 4.30pm. Entry is free to children and Taupo District residents with proof of address.

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Lisa Nairne Communications Manager 07 376 0762 027 839 8410

Vicki Waterhouse Communications Advisor 07 376 0718 027 484 2549

Taupo District Council

www.taupo.govt.nz