March 22, 2018
Thames’ past and future in sculpture
A sculpture representing the past, present and future of Thames has gone up at the southern entrance to the town by the Kauaeranga River Bridge.
It was funded by a $50,000 grant from Thames Community Board to Ngati Maru to create a sculpture to help mark the 150th anniversary of the goldfields opening.
Thames carver Darin Jenkins came up with the concept of stylised wooden figures embracing, old metal wheels and cogs, and Katikati basalt.
The metalwork was completed by Thames artist John McKeowen and the basalt was carved in the form of a mussel shell by Tapu stone sculptor Jocelyn Pratt.
Thames Community Board chair Diane Connors says it represents the coming together of two peoples, the iwi and the immigrants, when the goldfields opened.
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