Larger-than-life welcome to arts festival
The arrivals hall at Nelson Airport is a great place for people watching, especially the welcomes for long-absent family and friends.
Now there is a larger-than-life welcoming committee for everyone who walks into the terminal, marking the start of the Nelson Arts Festival this week.
Six “parishioners” created by artist Sam Duckor-Jones have made the trip north from their home, a former Anglican Church in Greymouth. Duckor-Jones bought the disused church four years ago, renamed it Gloria and gave it a hot-pink makeover as part of its transformation into a public sculpture and “queer beacon”.
“A church wants to be filled with energy and people and characters,” he said. So he set about creating the parishioners but they are not your typical congregation.
As befitting their fabulous home, the two-metre tall papier-mache figures are decked out in high-heeled boots, hot pants and sequin bras. One of the characters has a long pink beard and gold underpants.
“They are all a little bit outrageous,” he said. “Because of the space, I have them all in a kind of prayer pose … I find them quite calming.”
He is about half-way through his Gloria project, which he hopes will become a permanent attraction in Greymouth
Duckor-Jones said while there has been some backlash – notably a graffiti attack – there had also been a lot of community support from people offering help and others pleased to see the church being used again.
A couple of Duckor-Jones’ ceramic sculptures will also feature in the Myths and Legends exhibition at Lee Woodman Studios in Hardy St during the 11-day festival which kicks off on Thursday.
The festival is celebrating its 30th anniversary with 56 events including art, theatre, literary talks, free community events, music and comedy.
By Warren Gamble, Nelson Mail
This Post Has 0 Comments