Author(s): Jenny Harper (ed.); Aaron Lister (ed.)

NZ Non Fiction

For decades the Beehive has served as WellingtonâÂÂs primary visual icon, its circular design neatly symbolising the functions and identity of New ZealandâÂÂs capital. But as Wellington has grown and diversified, public sculpture has assumed at least some of this responsibility. Neil DawsonâÂÂs Ferns, an aluminium globe whimsically suspended over the Civic Square in 1998, has a talismanic presence, and Cuba MallâÂÂs Bucket Fountain has splashed its way into the cityâÂÂs heart.

Wellington : A City for Sculpture is both a celebration of the dynamic presence of sculpture in the cityâÂÂs streets and parks, and an informative and sometimes provocative examination of how it has all got there and what it all means. Sculptures do not magically materialise in prime public spaces, and this book pays full credit to the host of individuals, agencies and corporations who â albeit driven by a range of often competing agendas and visions of the relationship between art and urban spaces â have done so much to enliven our daily environment.

Stunning new photographs by Bruce Connew capture more than forty sculptures in all the moods Wellington has to offer. In addition, archival photographs capture a few works that have been lost, and a couple of significant moments in sculptural history. Maps make them easy to find. The result is both a visual feast and a unique record of the twenty-first-century cityâÂÂs fabric. It is a book to be treasured by locals and visitors alike.