Let's get the Mountain Fountain in Parnell!

Go online by October 4 and vote for Parnell as its new home!

September 24, 2009

Last October, Terry Stringer's Mountain Fountain was removed from Aotea Square ahead of the square's redevelopment. Since then, Auckland City Council has been working closely with the sculptor, exploring a number of possible new locations for the artwork. Together, they've narrowed it down to two possibilities: in Parnell at Holy Trinity Cathedral and in the Selwyn Reserve at Mission Bay .

Aucklanders are asked to give their views on where this prominent modern sculpture should go, by having your say online (by Sunday October 4th) at the Auckland City Council website here: www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/council/projects/mountainfountain

Of course, Parnell Inc would love to have the Mountain Fountain come to Parnell – as would Dean Ross Bay, the Cathedral Resources Board and Bishops Faculty Committee, the Parnell Community Committee and many other Parnell people.

Here are some excellent reasons why Parnell should be the new home of the Mountain Fountain. Feel free to include these in your comments to Council, if you wish.

•  The fountain would pick up on the established architecture of the cathedral and the forecourt design, integrating it within the existing paving layout.  It would also compliment Professor Toy's original vision for the cathedral, with an artwork placed approximately where a sculpture was originally planned.  The sculpture would have a relatively prominent location, whilst leaving the forecourt clear. The two sides with water would face the forecourt and St Stephen's Avenue. (Pontus Kyander, Council's Public Art Manager.)

•  Parnell recently re-branded itself as Auckland 's Creative Quarter and location of the sculpture at the entrance to the Parnell centre would reflect the identity of the suburb - having been the home to many pre-eminent artists, writers and musicians over the course of history.

•  Holy Trinity Cathedral is already home to wonderful works of modern NZ art and the Mountain Fountain would continue the Cathedral's now well-established modernistic art tradition. The Cathedral is renowned for its modern stained glass, including the unique stained glass windows, designed by Robert Ellis and Shane Cotton, which tell the Christian story using a combination of traditional and Polynesian designs. The Cathedral is soon to have a glass font by renowned NZ artist, Ann Robinson.

•  As seen with Terry Stringer's sculpture in Newmarket (on Broadway at Remuera Road intersection), his works fit very well in an urban context. 

•  Located in the grounds of Holy Trinity, the sculpture would be highly visible to the thousands of tourists that take the Link Bus and Auckland Explorer bus routes to explore Auckland . In addition, Parnell is probably visited by more International tourists than Mission Bay .

•  Parnell is currently lacking in public art - the only other major artwork is close to the Fred Ambler Lookout on Gladstone Rd.

•  At the moment the courtyard of the Church is relatively barren and needs this type of public art to invite greater use by the residents, visitors and tourists.

•  Terry Springer was a long time resident of Parnell.

•  Newmarket has an iconic piece of Terry's work (outside Smith & Caughey - locating the Mountain Fountain in Parnell and identifying the Newmarket piece would lead to more tourists traveling to Newmarket to view a second piece rather than just going to the Museum.

•  The Museum/Domain has numerous outdoor artworks/sculptures. In the future a full sculpture trail could be created, which could also include the planned Parnell train station in the Waipapa Valley when this becomes a reality.

•  The proposed site at Mission Bay already has the iconic and much loved fountain - why put in another sculpture that will draw attention away from this already famous public artwork that has the added dimension of very grand/lighted waterfall movement?

•  The grounds of Selwyn Reserve are much loved as picnic and activity (e.g. Frisbee and Touch Rugby) spot in summer. This sculpture would be better in Parnell where it will be the prime focus on a non picnic/sports courtyard for uninterrupted appreciation by art lovers of all ages.

Now go online and have your say - let's bring the Mountain Fountain to Parnell!
www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/council/projects/mountainfountain