Fendalton Public Art Pays Homage To Pioneer And His Love

A sculpture inspired by the life and love of Warpole Cheshyre Fendall has been chosen for a community public artwork in Fendalton Park.

Sculptor Judith Streat hopes her creation ‘ Serenade’, represents both the history of Fendalton, and the man who waited three years for his bride from Britain as he established himself in the north west area of Christchurch in the 1850s.

Fendall’s story is told vividly in Frieda Looser’s 2002 book: Fendall's Legacy: a History of Fendalton and Northwest Christchurch. Fendall left England to establish a farm in Canterbury and waited three years for his bride, Lucy Hyacinthe Swann, to join him. “The sculpture is about the elements that bind a community together, about courtship and enduring love,” says Lyttelton-born Ms Streat, adding that the chief inspiration for her design was the story of Fendall and Lucy.

“The sculpture is also linked to how the existing native plants made way for a new society of people, of people who planted a legacy of English and European trees, who created beautiful gardens, and who initially established the Anglican middleclass culture and values of Fendalton and made up the best of Christchurch society,” says Ms Streat..

The artwork consists of two large, stylised, metal leaf forms intertwined with each other depicting a couple dancing or in an embrace. The smaller, lightly coloured leaf or fern has a lace-like fern pattern stenciled across its underside and partially across the front. The 2.8 metre tall structure will be set into a circular revolving base.

Ms Streat’s concept was chosen from several that were submitted for consideration by an advisory group comprising of Community Board members, community representatives and Council staff. Funded by the Fendalton/Waimairi Community Board, “Serenade” is presently being manufactured by Slade Engineering with the work overseen by engineer Brian Moore.

“Serenade” will be installed in Fendalton Park in September.

Judith Streat is a well-known artist who has been engaged to create several community artworks for the city.

ENDS

© Scoop Media