Tokoroa’s Talking Poles were first suggested in 1996 as a feature for the town’s retail area upgrade. The project was enthusiastically supported by residents and to date, over 40 poles are on display.Eventually, there will be over 60 arranged in a trail, mainly around the central shopping area.The Talking Poles project aims to depict the variety of cultures in our community. Because of our forestry heritage, many of the poles are made from pine and other local woods. However, mediums such as ceramic and steel will also be encouraged.The project is managed by The Talking Poles Trust in partnership with the South Waikato District Council. The project has had generous support from Carter Holt Harvey.
The pole featured in this cache is:
Location: State Highway 1 at entrance to Carter Holt Harvey Kinleith Mill site
Materials: Totara, Mounted on concrete base with tall steel supports bolted to rear of pole
Created: 2004
Artist: Kevin Smith
Definition of Name:
Life Force – “The force or influence that gives something its vitality or strength: the life force of the symphony”
Interpretation of Definition:
The spirit or energy that animates living creatures; the soul.
Meaning of the Sculpture/Carving:
This sculpture represents an idea of the soul. A person’s moral or emotional nature, sense of identity; both internally in oneself and externally as part of one’s community.
Materials:
Totara can be found in both the North Island and the South Island, although it is mostly found in the Central North Island region, and in lowland reserves. The Totara tree can grow up to two and a half metres in diameter, with older and larger trees becoming hollow. The tree is identified by its dark brown trunk with bark that looks similar to paper strips coming away from the tree. The heartwood of Totara can be seen as a common brown reddish colour, the sapwood is a lighter shade of brown. Growth rings are present in the tree and are very distinctive as they are usually evenly spaced. The wood of the tree has a straight grain, which allows it to be easily split, the wood is also very fine and has an even texture that has an attractive finish.
Artist Notes:
Kevin Smith is of Italian, Pakeha descent and has learnt traditional Maori carving.
Kevin Smith has been a part of a Poutama course, this involved participation in carving a new Wharenui for the Peria Marae in Northland. He also spent time in South Korea carving Totem poles. This was a protest against the destruction of a 20,000 hectare tidal flat that the New Zealand native bird the “kuaka” feed at, on their migration to Siberia.
Kevin Smith is a specialist of mixed media sculpture, in particular, stone, bone and found native timbers. He has a passion and political stance towards road safety which extends into motifs used in his work.
FIRST TO FIND: Malsdad