About

About the artist Vivien Lindsay

This was a project I completed in my final year of Art School at the Quay School of the Arts (UCOL), Whanganui. In my art practice, I am particularly interested in relational aesthetics as an art form which incorporates elements of participation, dialogue, and community engagement.

Why Kowhai Park?

First and foremost, I am a huge fan!  I love the park and the quirky colourful concrete characters that reside there (particularly the bears).

I believe a community can benefit from the telling and sharing of stories and in this case, there are a multitude of stories to be collected. The success of Kowhai Park is definitely worthy of this attention.

The planning and construction of the park was a labour of love and dedication spanning several decades. A huge contingent of volunteers predominantly from service groups such as Jaycees, the Lions and Rotary Clubs donated their expertise and time to the creation and ongoing development of the facility. Furthermore, it is a tribute to the Wanganui District Council to see it so well cared for. This project is about honouring that effort and commitment and celebrating the fact that it has been loved by generations of families since the early 60’s.