Sculpture may stay after all

Press, 5 December 1985, Page 8

Sculpture may stay after all

Elderly residents in the Manse Place flats in Waimairi have decided they want to keep their controversial sculpture, “Family Circle,” provided shrubs are planted to screen the family’s ample rears. The sculpture, by a Christchurch sculptor, Lew Summers, has prompted reaction from residents since it was installed early this year. The result was that the Waimairi District Council, swayed by opposition to the sculpture, decided to move it An alternative site and funds to move it had not yet been found.

The piece was commissioned for the council’s housing for the elderly by the Burroughs-Line Development Centre, at a cost of $2OOO. The cost of relocation was estimated at $7OO. In recent weeks, however,

it appears that residents have changed their minds. An elderly woman telephoned the council and said that residents would be happy to keep the sculpture (with its father, motherland child bundled together naked) provided the back of it was screened with plants.

Some councillors ' and* council staff met the resi-; dents on Monday to discuss the matter and,confirm the, apparent change of mind.

The council’s community affairs committee 'decided yesterday to recommend' that the council' defer moving the sculpture -for. six months, plant round the back of it, and consider rescinding its present policy on removal.

Planting behind the sculpture would be much cheaper than shifting it, the committee heard.