Visit Sculpture in the Gardens: exhibition open now.

The fifth biennial Sculpture in the Gardens exhibition is now open at the Auckland Botanic Gardens in Manurewa. 

One of New Zealand’s most outstanding sculpture events, featuring 20 outdoor artworks on a 1.8km trail through the magnificent gardens, Sculpture in the Gardens runs between 29 November 2015 and 6 March 2016, and is free to the public.

Supreme Award winner

At the launch on Saturday 28 November, Rotorua-based artist Jamie Pickernell was presented with the McConnell Family Supreme Award, for Keep.

Mayor Len Brown welcomed attendees to the exhibition and acknowledged the contribution of Sculpture in the Gardens to creating a beautiful, culturally rich and creative Auckland that is loved by its people.

He was joined by the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Hon. Maggie Barry who officially declared the exhibition open.

“This exhibition really gets people going. It has consistently drawn more people through the gates and deeper into the lush gardens each time, with the last exhibition attended by almost half a million people - many of them first time visitors - from all over Auckland,” says Mayor Len Brown.

“At a time when the pace in our city is constantly quickening, when people have less free time and less disposable income, it is heartening to see visitors from all walks of life taking time away from the hustle and bustle," says Len Brown.

When announcing the McConnell Family Supreme Award, Linda Tyler, from the Sculpture in the Gardens curatorial panel said, “Like all the sculptures in this year’s exhibition, Jamie Pickernell’s Keepgets you thinking about the forces of nature and the impact of culture, and how structures alter your perception of a place, giving you a fresh perspective on how the world works.”

New additions to permanent collection

The Friends of the Auckland Botanic Gardens president Bill Burrill also announced the acquisitions of James Wright’s Ratite Mya and Marte Szirmay’s Seek for the gardens’ permanent collection.

“With each exhibition the Friends selects works to remain at the gardens. This is a wonderful legacy of the exhibition – of which we are very proud,” he says.

“The Friends selection committee felt that Ratiti Mya provided the perfect introduction into the Gondwana Arboretum, the Auckland Botanic Gardens’ most expansive plant collection.

“Marte Szirmay has long been regarded as one of Auckland’s most accomplished artists, and the Friends are delighted to add one of her sculptures to the gardens’ permanent collection.”

Exhibits available for purchase

Visitors can take their time to stroll through the Sculpture in the Gardens exhibition which runs for three months. It’s a free event and all works in the exhibition are for sale.

Proceeds from sculpture sales fund future sculpture purchases, enriching the permanent collection and visitors’ experiences.

Sculpture in the Gardens is promoted by the Friends of the Auckland Botanic Gardens, the Auckland Botanic Gardens and Auckland Council with support from the Manurewa Local Board and many valued sponsors (such as Foundation North, formerly the ASB Community Trust) and volunteers.