Swannanoa School Sculpture Project | 2017

Swannanoa School Sculpture Project – 2017

In March 2017, I was invited to Swannanoa School to help create five symbolic sculptures for the entrance to the school. Each sculpture represents one of the school’s core values.

The five taonga are:

• Pikorua – Community
• Toki – Integrity
• Roimata – Respect
• Koru – Kindness
• Porowhita – Success

Although we were creating five separate sculptures rather than one large piece, the process followed the same approach I use with other schools. The senior students began with the sawing and chiselling. As the forms developed, the younger students joined in, sanding the five taonga to a fine finish.

We were fortunate to work under a large veranda, which allowed us to continue in most weather conditions and keep the project running to schedule.

It was great to see the students put in so much effort and take real pride in their work. Now that the five taonga are installed at the entrance to the school (as seen in the video below), they have become a strong part of the school’s identity. The designs are now used in school letterheads and promotional material, extending the impact of the project beyond the sculptures themselves.