At first sight, this larger-than-life child's flotation ring bounds down the grassy slope of Oruamo Domain in Glenfield. Three and a half metres in diameter, the scale and size of the artwork demands our attention asking, 'what is it', and 'is it for real'?

The polished stainless-steel surface invites a closer look, it reflects the surrounding environment of the domain, the sky, and even your own reflection becomes part of the artwork.

*Soft Focus … Summer's Day* is by artist David McCracken and is a continuation of a series of works that presents objects of wonder and optimism, in part a response to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.

"I am looking for immediacy and to 'break the fourth wall' with the vertical orientation and placement at the bottom of the hill. This suggests dynamism ...that something is happening - these are things that can be universally appreciated and need no historical knowledge, but which are also easily apprehended from a moving vantage, as many people will be as they drive past," says McCracken.

Soft Focus … Summer’s Day

Running alongside the Wairau Valley stream on Auckland’s North Shore, *Transitional Line* explores themes of transformation. Artist Elke Finkenhauer invites people to explore the area, and to think about movement as they walk in and around the flowing steel sculpture.

The artwork is made up of two contrasting elements; a silvery line of varying size that subtly makes its way along the concrete paths, connecting up with gentle curves of weathered steel that rise up from the ground. Linking the walking paths with an open public space, the structure forms the centrepiece for the redesign of the Croftfield Lane stormwater pond project, completed in 2016 by Boffa Miskell for Wai Ora-Healthy Waterways.

The Croftfield Lane project focussed on stormwater, as well as creating seating areas and community walkways. The project received an award of excellence in the 2016 NZILA Landscape Architecture Awards.

Transitional Line

This modernist sculpture is what remains of Northcote Shopping Centre's *Sculptural Court* by Glenfield artist Lyndon Smith. Completed in 1971, the installation was originally made up of four elements, this greystone sculpture, meant to symbolise the strength and growth of the shopping district, a white cement disc that represented the sun shining on the waters surrounding Northcote and reflected the rippling water of a small round fountain below it. The fourth element was a wall encompassing the court, designed as a wind break and creating a sun trap for shoppers.

A public competition in 1968 called for applications to design this focal point for the Northcote Shopping Centre. Smith's winning submission was commissioned by the Northcote Borough Council and a large donation from a former mayor of Northcote, Mr E. A. J. Holdaway was used to finance part of the installation.

Modifications to the court over the years has highlighted the need to consult with the artist when making changes that could affect the integrity of the work. The granite form remains, re-sited in 1998 when the shopping centre was redeveloped.

Sculptural Court

Linking the Birkenhead Library with the surrounding reserve, these 'reading wall' sculptures feature cut-out words and phrases of significance to the local community.

The design is inspired by the quote wall in the old Vero Building in Shortland Street in Auckland's central business district. The flat wall has been translated into three-dimensional panels and includes quotes and text from historical and cultural sources such as the Chelsea Sugarworks, Māori and European history, sports and the development of Birkenhead.

The text was created through cutting, welding, heating, forging and plasma cutting thick galvanised steel panels to create interesting positive and negative spaces on the four structures.

Artist Jeff Thomson was commissioned by North Shore City Council in 2008 to create these sculptures to welcome visitors to the new Birkenhead Library.

David McCracken

Soft Focus … Summer’s Day

"This reflective, dynamic sculpture includes themes of hope and optimism in this North Shore reserve."

Artwork details

Production date

Medium

Dimensions

Credit line

Description

Location

Artworks near this one