Reasons for Voyaging

Graham Bennett's 'Reasons for Voyaging' is a gateway sculpture which welcomes visitors to the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu.

It was designed and installed as part of the building itself and was a collaboration between local sculptor Graham Bennett and architect David Cole.

The seven stainless steel poles are fitted with an electronic mechanism that causes them to rotate every full moon. At midday on the day of the full moon the sail on top of each pole rotates three times, then moves to its new position, one after the other. It's not working at present, due to the earthquakes.

Talking of earthquakes - today is the 3rd anniversary of the 1st devastating earthquake to hit Christchurch - 4th September 2010. I was in Turkey at the time, with friends, and we were shocked to the core to hear what had happened back home. It feels like a lifetime ago - there have been many thousands of quakes since.

I'd intended to photograph this sculpture today, having been inspired a few months ago by Horomaka's effort - in fact it was the very first image of Horomaka's that I ever saw. Mine is far from what I'd have liked to capture, as it was pouring with rain and bitterly cold, and something was muttering inside my head "this'll have to do". I'll go back again another day - I've seen possibilities!

Brrrr - it was so cold!! - and after that beautiful morning on the beach yesterday! Thank you so much for your comments and stars and hearts for yesterday's The Sky's the Limit - you sent it into the Spotlight. It's much appreciated.