Anchor Stone Sculpture

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28699, 24 September 1958, Page 10

Anchor Stone Sculpture

The Christchurch sculptor. Mr Russell Clark, has started some lively controversies about his contemporary designs—the mechanical ear on the Tirharu telephone exchange and the air race mural for the Harewood terminal are two —but, for any critics of his latest work, he will have a ready answer in nature, .Maori legend, and actual stones. Visitors to Mr Clark’s home studio have recently seen dozens of models which suggested that he had come heavily under the influence of Henry Moore. The variety of similar designs might have been a male and female figure—or almost anything else. In fact, the chosen pair will be double-size replicas of two Maori anchor stones—one belonging to the Matahorua canoe, in which Kupe, is said to have discovered New Zealand in 925 A.D.; the other from the Tanui canoe, which entered the Waitemata harbour during the Great Migration of 1350.

The original Matahorua stone is now in the Dominion Museum, Wellington, and the Tainui stone is on the grave of the hereditary chief of the Mokau district, Tamati Kingi te Wetere, in the Awakino cemetety. The 6ft-high sculpture will be a striking centrepiece in the Wellesley street forecourt of the new 11-storeyed Government building in Auckland’s civic square.

The Government Architect (Mr F. Gordon Wilson) had the inspiration of reproducing canoe anchor stones for the sculpture and Mr Clark’s mind immediately turned to the two he knew best. ‘‘Their contemporary flavour is derived from the same source as modern sculpture: water-worn boulders, which inspire Henry Moofe,” Mr Clark said. ‘‘They make a fine pair and will fit admirably into the design of the forecourt. At the same time they will provide an interesting link

with New early history and legends.”

Mr Clark first made the models shown above, the Matahorua stone on the left and the dumb-bell-shaped Tainui stone on the right, and decided to turn them upright to conform with the great height of the building on their eventual site. Search for suitable stone was the next problem. Takaka marble was investigated; but it was not possible to get sufficjently-large flawless blocks. A quantity of Darnley Dale stone from England was considered; but local stone was considered more appropriate. Mr Clark finally settled on Hinuera stone, from near Hamilton, a hard buff pumice which seals itself with weather. It was one of the two threeton blocks which tipped a mobile crane over when they were delivered to Mr Clark’s home last week.

Mr Clhrk now has a job on his hands. In about three months he will chip away about half the volume of each stone—a total of about three tons. A floor covered with chips from a small head recently caused him, to work out that each chip represented four blows with the mallet. He was appalled by the prospect for the big Auckland job and compromised his artist’s conscience by deciding to hire a pneumatic pick (like the ones used on the roads) to do the rough shaping. Then will come tedious hand cutting, ra'sping, filing, and sandpapering to reproduce the surface which ages of wear placed on the original anchor stones. There is another modern touch about the job. To shelter the big blocks outside, Mr Clark has erected an awning of clear plastic, which will give protection from rain and frost and yet let the light in. Altogether the sculpture will be the most unusual produced in New Zealand as well as the biggest this year.