Public Art in Central Christchurch

Taurapa, Christchurch / Seattle Sister City Sculpture

Category: Sculpture Title: Taurapa, Christchurch / Seattle Sister City Sculpture Alternate title: Seattle Sister City Sculpture Primary artist(s): Chris Booth Execution date: Completed 12 June, 1997 Media: Greywacke boulders and crystalline sandstone Approximate dimensions: h 3.8m w .8m d 20m Location: Cambridge Terrace Setting: Bank of the Avon, near Edmonds Band Rotunda Owner / administrator: Seattle Sister City Committee

On the banks of the Avon there is a public work of art that has raised very little public comment. The sculpture is designed by Chris Booth to celebrate sister city relationship between Seattle, Washington State, America and Christchurch, New Zealand. The work was commissioned by the Seattle Sister City Committee and the sculpture is situated on the Avon banks to reflect elements of commonality between the two cities' -water,mountain, and trees.

A competition was hosted to decide the commission. Chris Booth's design was selected. It incorporated the commonality of the two cities environments along with a quote by the Chief of Seattle made in 1854. "man did not weave the web of life he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web he does to himself. (Chief Seattle, 1854, Washington Territory)¹. Booth incorporated the theme of the quote to the medium of stone.

The web of life is a reference to the fragility of life. This fragility is transported to the alluvial nature of Canterbury, as river boulders are deposited downstream boulders begin to stack up against an uplifted sedimentary crystalline sandstone slab, the symbol of equilibrium.² All the boulders were selected and gathered by Booth from around the Canterbury region.

¹ Chris Booth proposal, Robert McDougall Art Gallery files

² Ibid

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