WORK ON SCULPTURE MURAL FOR AIRPORT

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28895, 15 May 1959, Page 12

WORK ON SCULPTURE MURAL FOR AIRPORT

Work by the Christchurch sculptor Mr Russell Clark on a sculpture mural design for the main concourse of the new Christchurch airport is almost finished. Yesterday he was “filing down” the main figure of the mural.

Commemorating the 1953 London to Christchurch air race, the mural will be placed in the airport building almost in line with the race finishing line. The mural, a gift from the Air Race Council to the city of Christchurch, was approved by the airport committee of the City Council last June. Symbolising man’s spanning the heavens and the organisation that was necessary for the air race, the mural has a central relief figure with arms outstretched. Its left hand rests on an orange setting sun, above the head is a white crescent moon on a midnight blue background, and its right hand rests on a yellow rising sun. Mr Clark said the symbols represented the start of the race late in the day from London, and flying through the night and the rain-shrouded sbnrise of the finish. Fine wire symbols of the maps

of Britain and New Zealand have yet to be mounted on the mural.

“I was not happy about the maps at first, but I am happy now. It will tie the whole thing up,” Mr Clark said.

Arcs of chromium steel rods show the air path between the two countries, symbolising vapour trails. Along the path are small dart-like planes. Mr Clark has been working on the mural for three months. “It has probably been longer than that, but the main part has been done in the last three months. Recently the pressure has been on as it has to be ready for the opening of the airport,” he said. He has been working on the mural from “9 a.m. until 10.30 p.m.—just about seven days a week.”