Cat was sculpted from a two-tonne block of Oamaru stone by former Miramar artist Kerk Taylor as a part of the Tareitanga Sculpture Symposium in Frank Kitts Park in 1997.
The sculpture was briefly displayed outdoors the Miramar Library after the Symposium, however was so standard a profitable group marketing campaign resulted within the paintings turning into a part of the Wellington City Council’s Public Art Collection.
Local Miramar artist Kim Beaton contacted Council providing to undertake restore work on the worn and weather-beaten sculpture. A quest to seek out the artist for permission led to discovery of his demise in 2016, however his son Inia, a sculptor, was inquisitive about collaborating with Kim on the restoration.
Inia Taylor (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Toa, Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Koroki) is a extremely regarded tā moko artist and sculptor who has additionally created public artworks.
“Being able to repair this artwork made by my father means the world to me. The idea that Cat can survive and live on as an integral part of the community serves as a really good memory of my father and the beautiful art that he made.”
Inia says that as an arts educator, his father would have liked the truth that youngsters take pleasure in Cat a lot. Kerk as soon as held an exhibition known as ‘Please Touch’ the place guests had been inspired to bodily work together with the artworks.
The artists are in search of to retain the qualities and look of the unique paintings whereas additionally making the paintings extra strong and sturdy, prepared for future generations of kids and locals to take pleasure in.
