Sculpture in Central Otago

My stroll around Rippon Vineyard was so enjoyable I'm giving you some more picture highlights.

Ben Foster's 'Momentum'  has shining twisting aluminium surfaces which catch the light differently from different angles, and to a degree reflect the surroundings.

Having said that, to my mind that is what sculpture is about really, the effect of changing light and viewing angle.

This was certainly one of my favourite pieces, in spite of the fact that if you gave me a choice between natural or manmade materials I would most likely choose natural..

I think the pieces I really would like to have in my surroundings to watch for a long time were Doug Neil's two bluestone carvings. 'Canoe Dreams' I  and II. I love the surfaces of this stone,  rewarding both in the pitted nature of the smoothly finished bands, and in the way the texture changed and caught the light where rough chips contrasted with these. Angled carefully to the path of the sun, and different from every side, these two pieces would change by the minute as time passed, as well as having a delightful flowing line to the design.

In full light the appearance is like waves or wings and there is a deceptive lightness in the floating lines.

As the sun grazes only the tips, and throws shadows that make the dark and light accentuate the high relief the appearance is very different. I climbed through part of a tree to take this shot catching the light from a different angle and the second side to this piece - and as the grey painted plinth did little to enhance the sculpture in my eyes, I cheated by removing it with photoshop back to grass, to focus on the work alone.

This general view as you returned back uphill to the carpark and tasting room shows Gary Baynes 'Wind Song'. Beautiful shapes and flexible seeming curves. I think I do prefer the dark patina in the landscape to the shiny stainless steel or obviously alien plastic paint.

Another pices by Mark Hill may be seen behind, 'Aspiring' Like the larger 'Ribbon' further round the hill this piece rewards with both interesting line, and delightful rusty patina changes when close to it.

Especially in the golden tones of a real Autumn I was won over by the bold illusions of Russell Beck's 'Autumn Perception'. As one trudged up the grassy lane towards it, the apparent size, and the precise negative shapes and shadows kept its reality flickering from one perception to another, while the eventual surprise on drawing level with what had seemed a spatially large object to find its relative compactness was still a big surprise. 

 It was very well placed. The sculptures grouped at stages around the walk were so well set off by the surrounding vineyard and scenery - thankyou Rippon, and the Wanaka Arts Charitable Trust for this opportunity to enjoy a spectacle so stunningly set.

Shane Woolridge's 'Missing Link' used the familiar Central Otago Glenorchy slate in a fascinating way too. Human scaled it could be walked through, and raises questions about who or what is the missing link - and is this it found -or created by its loss?
I enjoyed the light catching textures and shadows, and three dimensional changes of angle which appeared as one walked right round.

This is only my pick of 36 works on display - edited down by the fact that I had not too much time for photos before closing time, so missed getting good shots of equally stunning work by Bing Dawe, and Anna Scott's 'Potential' series of cast bronze poppy seedheads.
A most enjoyable hour as the sun dropped behind the mountains.
Ang