He Toki Maitai, sculpture by New Brighton artist Jon Jeet

August 2024

Jon Jeet's monumental-size steel toki is located next to the Roy Stokes Community Hall, Seaview Road, New Brighton, Christchurch NZ. In this video, the artist explains what the sculpture is about. In 2022, Jamie Hanton, then Managing Curator at SCAPE Public Art, commissioned Jon to devise a sculpture in response to the theme 'Sweat Equity'. Jon's giant toki was constructed of corten steel by Coombes Sheet Metal and Fabrication, and was on temporary display at Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre. In 2024, the toki was relocated to the boundary of the old New Brighton School. For Jon, “it’s a full circle” since he had his art studio at the old school for several years after the Canterbury earthquakes. “It takes me back to building relations with Renew New Brighton and the many, many artists who were there.” SCAPE Public Art projects come to fruition through the goodwill and in-kind support of Christchurch businesses, along with cash sponsorships, private donations and community grants. Jon Jeet particularly wants to thank Leigh Mason, Director of Coombes Sheet Metal and Fabrication, for assistance in the initial construction. Naylor Love, Grant MacKinnon of DGM Group, Lewis Bradford, Christchurch NZ, the Christchurch City Council Public Art Advisory Group, and a number of individual supporters, made it possible to move the artwork and install it permanently in New Brighton.

Creator: Whiteroom for SCAPE Public Art

Area: East / New Brighton

Contributor: SCAPE Public Art

Reference ID: CCL-DW-204301

Uploaded by: SCAPEPublicArt

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