Moore work this time?

Press, 21 December 1978, Page 1

Moore work this time?

Christchurch may have a second chance to provide safe grazing for “Sheep Piece II.” an important large bronze work by the British sculptor, Henry Moore. It was offered to Christchurch about four years ago but indecision then over a suitable site left the offer up in the air. The offer appears to be still open, however, and Mr T. L. Rodney Wilson, the new director of the Robert McDougall Art Gallery, has made a strong recommendation to the Christchurch City Council that action be taken urgently to acquire the sculpture. “Sheep Piece II” is one of several Henry Moore sculptures now on display in Kensington Gardens, London, in honour of the sculptor’s eightieth birthday. Other castings of the same work are in Kansas City and Geneva.

It comprises two U-shaped forms, one standing upright and the other, smaller form representing a lamb.

Mr Wilson has recommended to the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr H. G. Hay) and the cultural committee that the council

act quickly on the “very generous offer” to lend the sculpture for two or three years and then attempt to negotiate a price for its eventual purchase, promoting the purchase as a civic project. This time it seems that a decision on the offer will be made first and a site chosen later, not the other way round. Mr Wilson sees no difficulty in finding a suitable place for the sculpture, which stands about 4m high. Among the many possibilities in the city itself, he sees the planned Cashel Street pedestrian mall, Victoria Street when it is closed to traffic, Hagley Park, Latimer Square, and Cranraer Square as potential sites. “All those sites lend themselves to public sculpture,” said Mr Wilson. He is keen to see Christchurch acquire more public sculpture to relieve the flat nature of the city and is in no doubt that the Moore work would be the best way to start such a programme.

Henry Moore is widely acknowledged as the world’s most important living sculptor.

“This is an opportunity

for us to acquire the most important single piece of sculpture in the country,” said Mr Wilson. “A Henry Moore sculpture is to the twentieth century what a Michaelangelo is to the sixteenth.”

When “Sheep Piece II” was first offered to Christchurch, the Canterbury Society of Arts looked mainly outside the city for a site. Henry Moore was said to want a site in open country. The Summit Road was favoured but the sculpture was not considered in keeping with the preservation of the natural environment on the hills. A site as far away as the Mackenzie Country was also considered but was opposed by the National Roads Board but of fear that persons crossing the road to look at the sculpture might be run over. Another proposed site which came to nothing was a piece of waste land near Christchurch Airport.

Henry Moore’s secretary has told John Ross, the London correspondent of “The Press,” that a renewed request for “Sheep Piece II” would be sympathetically considered.

“Mr Moore likes his sculptures to go on public display all over the world and it is quite possible he would be enthusiastic about its going to New Zealand,” she said.

Speaking from Mr Moore’s home at Much Hadham. Hertfordshire, she said she could not speak for him but would make sure he read any letter on the subject which might come from New Zealand.

A New York businessman, Mr David Finn, who was involved in the previous talks, said from New York this week that as far as he knew the offer of the sculpture was till open. “All that has to be done is for someone to approach Mr Moore,” he said. “As a friend both of Mr Moore and of New Zealand I would be glad to try to help if I could.”

Mr Finn said the cost of buying the sculpture would have risen substantially in the last three years. Casting alone would probably cost about $150,000.

He personally favoured the idea of the piece being lent to the Christchurch authorities free for two or

three years. If during that period it aroused such public interest that it seemed likely the money could be raised to buy it, such a course could be adopted. If the money appeared unlikely to be raised after the loan, the sculpture could be returned to Mr Moore.

“I have no idea whether Mr Moore would agree to that suggestion, but he might,” said Mr Finn.

He was unable to estimate how much it would take to buy the sculpture over and above the cost of casting.

“These things are decided by an educational trust and it would depend on such factors as whether Christchurch was an important place for it to be and whether there were demands for the sculpture,” Mr Finn said.

Overseas Containers, Ltd, would be prepared to ship the sculpture to New Zealand in two containers free of charge, according to the line’s Australia and New Zealand trade director (Mr A. J. Bott). "We made this offer several years ago when it looked as if it was going to New Zealand and our offer still stands,” he said.