Roger Gordon
A Waipā councillor says he is surprised at the number of “really good” pieces of council-owned art in storage.
“Art is something that should be enjoyed,” Cr Roger Gordon told the council’s Strategic Planning and Policy committee this week.
A report from Museums and Heritage director Anne Blyth said the council owned 270 pieces of public art. She addressed the future of 104 pieces on display in council buildings.
The committee agreed to keep 70 and remove 34 from the council collection.
Mike Pettit
Two of the 34 slated for removal attracted the attention of Cr Mike Pettit who said they featured his wife Nic in a Magic netball team poster from 2006.
Others include faded prints valued from $5 to $200.
Council’s collection also includes 29 outdoor pieces including sculptures and murals. It also has a 137-piece photography and digital image collection which is yet to be assessed.
Gordon said he would be keen to see the public pieces of art displayed more prominently.
Bruce Thomas
“It would be nice to see this art out there and enjoyed by our community.”
Even the pieces being moved on should have a good home to go to.
“Art is in many cases in the eye of the beholder. Those two Magic posters would have a new home.”
Asked by Cr Bruce Thomas what “resting” artwork meant, Blyth said that applied to water colours which only had a certain tolerance for light.
If on display for long periods, colours faded and the paintings did not hold their value, she said.
Susan O’Regan
Mayor Susan O’Regan said when it came to art she was “probably a bit of a heathen.”
“I like the stuff that’s created to be enjoyed. I’m all about making sure we don’t lock stuff away in perpetuity.”
