Built out of aluminium and reinforced with stainless steel, Wanganui's newest sculpture should withstand any weather, its makers say.
Daniel Clifford's HB pencils sculpture won $50,000 and in September was pronounced the best of 12 in the inaugural Sculpture Wanganui competition by judge Rob Garrett.
It was distinctive, different and had the
"slow burn effect" - making a suggestion and allowing the imagination to take flight, Mr Garrett said.
The piece that was judged was just a mock-up, Clifford said. It got knocked around in September's wind and had to be repaired.
The real thing has been designed by BPL Group and built and installed at Clifford's expense by Ali Arc Sheetmetal, with paintwork by Colour Code Autopainters, and stickers from Display Associates.
The wooden pencil ends were made by Clifford's Wanganui friends Dale Hudson and David McDonald.
By the time most people see the sculpture the pencils will appear to be rising out of the ground, as Clifford intended.
What they will not see is the dates and words in the original design.
Wanganui District Council arts co-ordinator Don Hunter said removal of the words was the judge's decision.
Mr Hudson said the judge had told him the words were irrelevant.
They were in English and Maori, and made reference to New Zealand's colonial history.
