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Bell Gully back projects for public art enjoyment
Projects to bring significant New Zealand artworks to public spaces in Wellington and Auckland have been supported by Bell Gully.
A large and significant neon-lit sculpture, SkyBlues by Bill Culbert, was unveiled on Wellington's Post Office Square on Tuesday (March 21).
The work comprises seven slim, tapering stainless steel poles, each nearly 11 metres tall, set out in the pattern of a koru spiral. The top five metres of each pole support twisting spirals of blue neon light.
The work will be highly visible, particularly at night, from Jervois Quay, Grey St and Customhouse Quay.
New Zealand-born artist Bill Culbert is internationally famous for his work in neon and other light forms.
The artwork was selected by the Wellington Sculpture Trust with the support of the Wellington City Council, specifically for the Post Office Square site, after a lengthy selection process in 2002-03.
The principal funder of the project is Tower Group, with major donations also from Creative New Zealand and the Wellington City Council. A number of others, including Bell Gully, have contributed the balance of the funds to make the commissioning of SkyBlues possible.
In Auckland, Bell Gully has given two major New Zealand artworks on long-term loan to help brighten the environment at Auckland's busiest public hospital.
A painting by the late Pat Hanly and a Greer Twiss sculpture are on display in the entrance foyer and in the National Women's section of the Auckland City Hospital. They had been displayed in Bell Gully's previous Auckland office but when the firm moved to the Vero Centre it did not have the space to do justice to the works.
While the firm did consider selling them, it was then agreed that the works could be enjoyed by many if they were on public display.
The hospital was keen to have the major works, building on a previous relationship with Bell Gully which saw a firm event organised to raise funds for the hospital. Some of the money raised was used to buy art work for the hospital.
Bell Gully chairman David Simcock says the firm is pleased to support projects that promote the enjoyment of art in public spaces.
"At the hospital the works will not only be seen by a wide group of people but that they will hopefully bring pleasure and interest to a setting which by its very nature can be stressful for patients, visitors and staff."
The Pat Hanly work at Auckland City Hospital
The Greer Twiss sculpture
SkyBlues by Bill Culbert
