Art of Remembrance

By Carolyn Enting

Art of Remembrance
There's an opportunity to own a special piece of art, and history, when thousands of brass art works by Max Gimblett adorning St David's in Auckland are taken down at the end of July.

Since Anzac Day Aucklanders have enjoyed a unique outdoor exhibition of shining artworks of Remembrance by artist Max Gimblett, which are currently adorning the exterior walls of St David’s Soldiers’ Memorial Church in Grafton.

Thousands of individual artworks made of brass – each the size of a soldier’s hand outstretched. The artworks are available to buy online for $100 each, raising much needed fund’s for Friends of St David’s Trust, a registered charity dedicated to the preservation of the church, which is needed due to stringent new seismic rules and almost 90 years of wear and tear.

Large Quatrefoils_03

Each artwork features one of seven, screen-printed designs, and being brass, is individually baked, making every piece subtly different. The quatrefoil is an ancient Christian cross, a flower of the Pacific, and a lotus symbol of peace and new life. It is also an ANZAC poppy.

They look wonderful when grouped, or on their own depending on the wall space they’re intended for.

Constellation_03_big

The project, inspired by the ceramic poppies at The Tower of London, is in Remembrance to the 100,000 New Zealand soldiers and nurses who served abroad in WWI. St David’s was built to commemorate those who served in WWI and the foundation stone was laid on Anzac Day 1927.

_MG_8779_2

On July 23 Corporal Willie Apaita, VC, will present the family of the late Corporal Cyril Basset with an artwork from Remembrance at a special closing ceremony. Corporal Basset is New Zealand’s only recipient of the Victoria Cross for service at Gallipoli, the highest military decoration awarded for “valour in the face of the enemy”.

At the end of July the artworks will be brought down. Those sold will go to their new homes while others will be part of new installations across the country.

They can be purchased at http://RememberThem.nz

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

Print Recipe

BECOME A MiNDFOOD SUBSCRIBER TODAY

Let us keep you up to date with our weekly MiNDFOOD e-newsletters which include the weekly menu plan, health and news updates or tempt your taste buds with the MiNDFOOD Daily Recipe. 

Member Login