The cache
This screwtop pill bottle is situated at the previous site of L.Jack's work, 'Family Secrets'. Family Secrets was moved to Te Papa in 2016 to make way for forestry work at the GZ. During operations however, workers unearthed the memorial to Jack's beloved companion Billy. Above his remains Jack has sculpted a cross in the form of a dancers retiré, which referenced his companion's amazing dancing prowess.
The L.Jack series
The L.Jack series of caches consists of:
- 'In Search of My Roots'
- 'Family Secrets' (archived)
- 'Dancing Billy's Final Jig'
- 'Celestial Throne'
- 'Knackered'
The sculptor
To quote Maline O'Toolle in the magazine 'Sculpt';
"Often referred to as “The Banksy of sculpture”, Jack’s works often surface unheralded in obscure areas of the landscape. L. Jack (the sculptor's pseudonym) is an Australasian-based chainsaw artist, philosopher and forestry worker whose real identity is unknown. His satirical landscape sculpture and subversive epigrams combine dark humour with chainsaw-work executed in a distinctive two-handed double-saw technique."
"Jack's works of introspective and social commentary have surfaced in forestry blocks and national parks throughout the world. His unique style grew out of the Tokoroa underground scene, which involved collaborations between forestry workers and local gang artists."
Dancing Billy
Jack came upon Billy by chance on a Wairarapa timber block, and the young goat soon became Jack's constant companion. Apparently Jack taught the goat to dance in the Irish fashion whilst playing a small flute which Jack fashioned from a rimu branch. The goat met it's unfortunate demise, according to local folklore, after breaking into the workers smoko room, imbibing a fair portion of the alcoholic beverage store there-in, and dancing into the path of a passing forestry truck.
Jack's grief
Jack was inconsolable at the passing of his companion and, in his grief, created a sculptural monument above the goat's grave. This has survived the recent forestry work and marks the poignant location of this cache.
Respect our National Treasures
Please take care not to damage the piece while retrieving the cache.
Note: as with all of Jacks pieces, photography or any other reproduction of the artists work is forbidden.