Haast Eagle Wind Sculpture

November 2018

   Image of completed re strengthened bearing & mount for Belcher’s Haast Eagle wind Sculpture. Beautiful to see the form back up and easily turning , after a period of in action with the initial bearing having worn out . 
It’s possible to say that this bird is now looking the best it’s ever looked & long may that be.

Dogproof Artgate

October 2018

   Unusually , I answered my phone with a number showing , not known to me....and it was a guy wanting to know if I might want to make him a gate as he had seen another one I had made someone else 
Sure .. I could . 
The guy is Aaron & with his lady - has a comprehensive new home at Arthur’s Point which needed to have dog proof boundary to better manage their very cute furry pet.
The gate is made from re cycled historic mild steel fence standards and has a spacing / gap of less than 100mm so stop dog pushing through.
I added a jockey wheel for more resilience and had the pleasure of welding the gate to the hinges on site at the install , meaning can get everything right and don’t have to pre empt the final hanging details when you are making up the gate prior . 
Thanks Aaron .. was an enjoyable job.

Glentui Falcon

October 2018

   Following the ongoing sales of sections and success of Glentui Heights subdivision near Bob’s Cove came the commissioning of a NZ Falcon , from one of the coolest, can do, let’s get it done / Style Miss girl next door Janine Twose .
This sculpture compliments the 2 Tuis already installed & positioned at the entrance , on the Queenstown to Glenorchy-Queenstown highway .
The Falcon takes pride of place nestled in the landscape , along Peregrine Falcon Rd . It is a fine example from myself striving to make each new sculpture, more special , resulting in this bird uniquely featuring our Falcon’s defining Yellow eye & beak surround detail.
Also the wing design & detail is advanced with further underwing curve and shape to match more accurately true wing aero dynamic of the Falcon.
One thing I find myself ruminating on is that each time I make a bird , I seem to know less about them as the more I study their detail , the more I am in awe of everything about the design of this animal that makes FLIGHT possible . 
Especially this supreme hunter / Spitfire of ALL birds - The Karearea

Eagle 10 Wanaka

June 2018

   Incoming cold call email from website in 2018 late summer was from John Binney of Wanaka interested to commission a NZ Eagle to be sited somewhere on their sensational hillside property near Mt Barker . 
Soon they visited us and spent 30 mins socialising and demonstrating themselves to be authentic successful people living their dream . 
A few more emails and there you are .. Eagle 10 commission locked in 
Am not sure if it’s Eagle number 10 but we can call it that .. sounds good 
( might be Eagle 11)
What I like about John and Sandra is that they know what they want , dont muck round , get the job done 
Very interesting and warm folks 
Everything about this commission went well . The bird came to life roosting on its Glacial eratic and forever is looking over the most expansive pano of Wanaka as you will ever get 
Thanks John ! And what about the home cooking smoko breaks from Sandy . Beyond restaurant grade.

17 Feature Lampshades 

January 2018

   In order that the Commons Building could have substantial lighting in the west room, there was a requirement to make.

GY Campground SHELTER building design commission

July 2017

   Its not every day somebody comes along, sees our home, and sculpture... and then commissions the design and direction of a building for them.
And so this is what happened with the Glenorchy Campground re development project. Not your average construction job going on here, but a " green build ", off the grid, " Living Building Challenge, " Net Zero Energy "... presenting for the world to admire and learn from… a project from the future, about the future, as an example of what can be possible for everyone. Right now.
Composting toilets, solar garden power generation, ultra insulation, bedrock heat utilization... the list goes on. You get the picture.
An accommodation centre and campground so bold, set in, the beautiful location of Glenorchy - the brainchild with passion from philanthropists Paul & Debbi Brainerd, who have a southern hemisphere home here at the Head of Lake Wakatipu.
Was the project in danger of being too alien? Of having such high tech formidable new things that possibly it might lack local soul? Maybe but what could help it along - would be to let a local sculptor loose to design and direct one community shelter building, where the guests might coagulate around an old world open fire place, under the twisted and sunbleached beams of a big shed with aged old stonework, that could have been hand stacked by the pioneering shepherds who tended sheep flocks at the head of the lake in the 19th century.
Job done. Thanks Paul & Debbi.
Enjoy.
I have done so, working with you. Doing this thing.
You made it easy.