Sunny Collings first felt the allure of sculpture on a visit to the Musée Rodin when she was 21. Housed in a grand, 18th-century residence on Paris's Left Bank, the museum celebrates the life and achievements of France's most famous sculptor, Auguste Rodin.
Behind the house, the collection spills out onto a magnificent garden, offering an oasis of sculpture and greenery in the centre of the city. "I was just completely captivated," says Collings. "I hadn't really thought about sculpture before that."
Decades later, those seeds of inspiration have developed into a thriving sculpture park in Central Otago, hidden away in the Queensberry Hills. When she saw the 15-ha property for sale in 2015, Collings felt drawn to the location. The elevated position provides sublime views of the Southern Alps and the upper Clutha/Mata-Au River. But the view also encompasses land near Lake Hawea where Collings' great-grandparents once had a farm at Lagoon Valley. She consulted her partner, Selena Henry, and the pair made an offer.
The property is on former farmland subdivided over the years for rural living. Since previous owners had already built a comfortable home on the land, Collings and Henry decided to renovate some of the remaining agricultural structures. A steel-frame shed was transformed into a communal space for visitors and art.
"We wanted to keep the aesthetic of the interior more barn-like, with rough-sawn wood rather than Gib, and also a more industrial look with the steel beams exposed," Henry says. The couple populated the surrounding landscape with large, sculptural works from their own private collection, including Terry Stringer's imposing Temple of Poetry. For several years, it was their escape from busy lives in Wellington, but soon an idea formed for a more public-facing endeavour. The Poison Creek Sculpture Project was born.
SHIFT IN PERSPECTIVE
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Denne historien er fra February 10-16 2024-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Sights to behold
Being blind didn't deter Aucklander FRASER ALEXANDER and his partially-sighted wife from travelling in Europe. Their memories were shaped by sound, touch and smell.
Pages of delight
Charming survey of children's literature throughout the centuries should be treasured and reread.
Heart of the matter
Women are less likely to be diagnosed with heart disease than men, and less likely to get best treatment. Researchers are struggling with old stereotypes to right the balance.
Balaclava beats
Their paramilitary shtick is intentionally menacing, offensive and alienating, but to be fair to the hip-hop trio Kneecap, their infamous balaclava is disarmingly hilarious. Kneecap, the 2024 movie that offers a fictionalised account of their rise to fame, is a Bafta- and Oscar-nominated Northern Irish film sensation.
Friends like these
One of the stranger characteristics of the populist oligarchy mobilising around Donald Trump's new administration is the interest taken in the domestic politics of the UK.
Irresistible force
A new documentary about gentle rugby giant Jonah Lomu reveals little but is a reminder of what made him special.
Fleeing the nest
A tale of building a new life after an abusive relationship makes for an impressive debut.
Life less ordinary
Chelsie Preston Crayford follows a big 2024 with a new comedy role and putting the finishing touches on her debut feature as a director and writer.
Not on our watch
Nasa, one of the most technologically advanced organisations on the planet, made prospective astronauts take inkblot tests to determine their sexuality.
No free lunch
The new, cut-price school lunch programme will shut out many community providers. But will bulk-supplied meals meet children’s needs?
