{"id":150307,"date":"2025-11-23T23:26:10","date_gmt":"2025-11-23T23:26:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/150307\/"},"modified":"2025-11-23T23:26:10","modified_gmt":"2025-11-23T23:26:10","slug":"sunlive-barry-to-miss-a-christmas-at-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/150307\/","title":{"rendered":"SunLive – Barry to miss a Christmas at home"},"content":{"rendered":"

It looks like Katikati\u2019s most iconic sculpture won\u2019t be home for Christmas on the main street this year.<\/p>\n

The sculpture of \u2018Barry, the Relaxed Typical Kiwi Bloke\u2019 was removed from outside the Arts Junction at 36 Main Rd after he was damaged by a vehicle accident on April 27.<\/p>\n

Katikati Open Air Art (KOAA) committee member Steve Graveson told Katikati News that while Barry\u2019s seat had been fixed locally, Barry is yet to be repaired.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe insurance company has received an estimated cost to repair Barry, but it has been difficult for the sculptor Donald Paterson to really give a true cost until he sees the total damage both inside and out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"

\nBarry was hit by a vehicle on Sunday night, April 27, and sustained a broken elbow and damaged arm. Photo \/ Steve Graveson<\/p>\n

Where Paterson can source the materials required to repair Barry is also up in the air, said Graveson.<\/p>\n

\u201cDonald is working with the insurance company, but at this stage is unable to give a date for Barry\u2019s return.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, Donald now lives down the bottom of the West Coast, so is miles away,\u201d said Graveson.<\/p>\n

Jack – Barry\u2019s dog <\/p>\n

KOAA is the non-profit art group, founded in 1989, that commissioned and maintained the township\u2019s murals and sculptures via its committee.<\/p>\n

People had suggested using someone else to repair Barry but Graveson said: \u201cUnless you know how he\u2019s made and what he\u2019s made up of you could destroy the integrity of Barry, so we\u2019ve got to work with Donald\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u2018Jack\u2019 \u2013 Barry\u2019s dog\u2019 was also damaged and removed from the scene by police the night of the accident. \u201cIt\u2019s looking like Jack will have to go on his own little adventure as he will have to travel to Christchurch to be repaired at specialised foundry,\u201d said Graveson. Again the timeline for this work is unknown.<\/p>\n

Murals update <\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the life of some of Katikati\u2019s older murals was up in the air too.<\/p>\n

KOAA\u2019s mural \u2018Those Who served\u2019 \u2013 is on the former RSA building\u2019s exterior which faces the corner of State Highway 2.<\/p>\n

Earlier this year the building, accessed from Henry Rd, was put up for sale and is currently under contract with a buyer.<\/p>\n

\"

\nThe location of mural \u2018Those Who served\u2019 \u2013 on the former RSA building\u2019s exterior \u2013 is up in the air. Photo \/ Merle Cave<\/p>\n

Graveson said this is a tricky situation for KOAA.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it [the building] gets sold and the new owner doesn\u2019t want it there, we are probably obliged to take it down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Graveson said the mural was painted on panels by Geoffrey Fuller in his studio in Havelock North in 1996, then transported to Katikati and attached to the RSA building. It had since been repainted by artist Renee Te Pairi in 2011.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause of its age and the materials used back then it\u2019s hard to remove this mural \u2013 which is attached to the building in panels \u2013 without causing any damage to it,\u201d said Graveson.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the same story with the \u2018Sunday in a Bush Camp\u2019 mural [created in 1994 by artist Anne de Silva] that was taken down from the side of the Arts Junction building, when remedial work was done on the building this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe tried to save some of those panels to see if we could recreate it in another mural but, again, because of the material they used back in those days \u2013 it was like a fibre-light board \u2013 it wasn\u2019t possible,\u201d Graveson said.<\/p>\n

\"

\nThe location of mural \u2018Those Who served\u2019 \u2013 on the former RSA building\u2019s exterior \u2013 is up in the air. Photo \/ Merle Cave<\/p>\n

He said if KOAA had to take down the mural on the side of RSA building he would have the same trouble. \u201cI hope it stays there \u2013 but also, in saying that it\u2019s probably one of those murals that does need a major upgrade.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other murals in the town that needed an upgrade included \u2018Te Whanau a Tauwhao\u2019 \u2013 painted by Te Maari Gardinerm Turangi in 1999 \u2013 on Talisman Drive. \u201cIt\u2019s the same \u2013 if we upgrade it is it better to put it on a new board that is going to last?\u201d<\/p>\n

Nearly 30 <\/p>\n

Graveson said some KOAA murals are nearly 30 years old \u201cwhich is quite a long time for an outdoor mural, which faces all weather conditions 24\/7\u201d.<\/p>\n

If the old RSA building\u2019s new owner is happy to keep the mural, Graveson said he would find an artist to re-paint it and bring it back to life.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been touched up a few times but it needs a major overhaul.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today KOAA chooses an ACM material for its murals, \u201cwhich is bulletproof just about\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis material doesn\u2019t rot, and you can unscrew and use the panels again,\u201d said Graveson.<\/p>\n

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