Stay (sculptures) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stay |
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Avon River installation of Stay
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| Artist | Antony Gormley |
| Year | 2015 |
| Type | cast iron |
| Weight | 650 kg |
| Location | Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Owner | Christchurch City Council |
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The Stay sculptures are two identical artworks. They look like human figures and are made from cast iron. The famous artist Antony Gormley created them.
You can find these sculptures in the central part of Christchurch, New Zealand. The first one was placed in the Avon River in September 2015. The second one was put in the Northern Quadrangle of the Christchurch Arts Centre in October 2016.
Contents
About the 'Stay' Sculptures
Why Were They Made?
Antony Gormley visited Christchurch in 2007. He remembered it as a city with lots of open spaces and wide streets. In February 2011, a big earthquake caused a lot of damage to the city centre.
In 2014, Gormley was asked to create art for Christchurch. He offered two identical sculptures. He believed his art could help the city heal after the earthquake. He said the city was "forced by nature to reformulate." His art was meant to help people reflect and "take stock" of things.
Gormley offered his artworks at a special lower price. The exact cost was not shared with the public. The Christchurch City Council (CCC) and the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) paid for the sculptures. The Christchurch City Council paid NZ$502,500 towards the cost.
The plan for these permanent artworks was announced in April 2015. They were part of a public art show called Scape8. This exhibition took place from October to November 2015.
Where Can You See Them?
Avon River Installation
One of the Stay sculptures is in the Avon River. It is located just a bit upstream from the Gloucester Street Bridge. 43°31′48.43″S 172°38′0.88″E / 43.5301194°S 172.6335778°E
News reports in September 2015 talked about the sculpture being placed there. A long pole, about 6 metres (20 feet) long, was screwed into the riverbed. The sculpture was then put onto this strong base on September 29. This was the first time any of Gormley's artworks had been installed in New Zealand.
Arts Centre Installation
The second Stay sculpture is at the Christchurch Arts Centre. It was officially revealed on October 1, 2016. You can find it in the Northern Quadrangle area of the Arts Centre. 43°31′52.58″S 172°37′41.82″E / 43.5312722°S 172.6282833°E
