Designer Not To Be Drawn

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30975, 3 February 1966, Page 1

Designer Not To Be Drawn

Mr Francis A. Shurrock, a sculptor and former member of the staff of the Canterbury University School of Fine Arts, who designed the 50 cent (musterer), 20 cent (footballer) and 10 cent (tekoteko) pieces flatly refused to comment in Christchurch last evening.

“1 have had no official advice on any designs recommended for acceptance and 1; I won’t be drawn in at this stage,” he said. Mr Shurrock said that about August, 1964 (“a long time ago”) various artists were invited to discuss designs. He had been invited to make certair modifications to his drawings after that but had heard nothing official for several months. “I would be a fool to enter the controversy at this stage,” he said. A numismatist: I shuddered to view them. I could see no cohesion, just a random hotch-potch. They are ghastly. It has cost a considerable amount of money for the De-

I sign Advisory Committee to ' • bring down these designs. i A Rugby player: It’s a pity j the bloke on the 20 cent . piece is not more animated , No New Zealand footballer , i would look as stiff and stodgy , ‘as that fellow.

An immigrant: I was not very impressed. Compared with the detail on coins used at present they all look very amateur. Plain bold numbers would have been better Greater use of Maori culture would have been more appropriate.

A journalist: The designs ; suggest we are a country of peasants. An astronomer: The general idea of trying to get something typically representative of New Zealand is good. But the point has been missed. 1 feel that with the possible exception of the Maori motif on the 10 cent coin the others could represent practically any country. A housewife: Fancy not having a kiwi on one of the coins. After all, it’s about our most distinctive emblem Another housewife after viewing the designs added: “Why not a bottle of beer on one.” An artist: Not one is worthy of being cast in metal.

The leak to the newspapers is justified in view of the atrociously poor designs. They appear to be of lineal design and totally unsuited to practical use. As for subject matter, they are too juvenile for words.

Bank teller: 1 am quite happy about them. The motifs are very suitable and appear to be a reasonable and effective portrayal of some of the country’s activities.