TAWAPOU SCULPTURED ART
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UNIQUE, HAND CARVED, WOOD SCULPTURES
SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR THE DISCERNING
TO ENHANCE THEIR ENVIRONMENT
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Upokororo
New Zealand native freshwater fish.
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Hand Carved Wood Sculpture
This is my second wood sculpture, just completed. Although the idea almost certainly grew out of the first one, I really consider it to be a step up. It took many more hours to complete and has more happening and detail to it.
Original Garden Wood Sculpture
As you would expect, I have always had a strong interest in nature and as a young child growing up on the farm I would spend hours playing and catching the creatures in the creeks. When we (Tawapou Coastal Natives) began sponsoring the Northland Farm Environmental Awards I became more and more aware of the immense pressure we are putting on our water ways through the intense farm practices in this country.
Creative Garden Sculpture
This work represents what has been lost and what may yet be lost if we do not protect our waterways.
Detail of hand carved eels.
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This fish swimming over the top of the log are life size versions of Upokororo made from an old hardwood wharf pile. Regarded as the most common freshwater fish in New Zealand, Upokororo were a major food source for Maori and are said to have occupied every major river system in New Zealand.
Hand Carved Fish & Eels on Creative Garden Sculpture
Hand Carved Original Wood Sculpture
The log I used is Puriri which has probably been lying on the ground for nearly one hundred years. The Tutukaka coast was highly regarded for this timber which was milled for tram track lines in Auckland at the turn of the century. It was said that there was a mill able tree every chain (20 meters) along the coast. Judging by the old stumps left around the farm these would have been some impressive trees.
Detail of Hand Carving
Rare Eels........