Lakeside Trail opens with sculpture by local artist

Published on 26 April 2023

How Do I Relate With Nature.jpg

A sculpture that received funding from Whanganui District Council’s Public Art Fund will officially open at the Bason Botanic Gardens on Saturday, 29 April, 12.00pm, as part of the new Lakeside Trail.

The Lakeside Trail – created by the Bason Botanic Gardens Trust over several years – was originally scheduled for completion in 2021 but was delayed due to Covid-19. The now complete walkway circles the iconic Bason Botanic Garden’s lake and offers a picturesque view of the gardens alongside the sculpture.

Whanganui artist Ivan Vostinar was granted the Public Art Fund in 2021 for a proposed piece titled “How Do I Relate With Nature”. The sculpture of a reclining figure is 4.6 metres tall and is located at the highest point of the walkway. The figure is depicted overlooking the expansive view. Close by, Ivan Vostinar has created a seat that complements the sculpture, to encourage walkers to reflect and enjoy the same view. Both the lakeside walkway and seat were financed by private donations.

“The Public Art Fund encourages local artists to think big and Ivan Vostinar’s sculpture is a perfect illustration of that,” Deputy Mayor Helen Craig says. “Upscaling from a model takes a totally different set of skills and risks, requiring engineering, structural integrity, injury assessment if it’s climbable, and durability to the elements in an outdoor environment. Well done to Ivan, the result is fantastic.”

A short ceremony will begin at 12.00pm at the start of the walkway, near the Japanese Tea House. Visitors are then invited to walk the trail and the artist will be present at the sculpture for a short time afterwards.

Bason Botanic Gardens Trust Board Chair, Terry Dowdeswell, says, “The gardens are a sanctuary for people and plants, for family, community and art. A place to enjoy, rest and recuperate.

“We welcome everyone in the community to attend this event. You are invited to bring your own picnic to enjoy at the top of the hill next to the sculpture, and take some time to wander through the grounds of this very special botanic reserve.

“In the 53 years since Stanley and Blanche Bason gave their farm to the community, the space has been developed into the Bason Botanic Gardens with the help of donations and bequests. Through the work of the council parks team and contracted maintenance teams, as well as input from the public, it has now become a significant botanical reserve and a place of recreation, education and enjoyment for both Whanganui families and outside visitors,” Terry Dowdeswell says.

Whanganui District Council’s Public Art Fund is an annual match-funding scheme which supports innovative public art by Whanganui artists. The fund has contributed to pieces around the city such as large-scale murals, sculptures and bus shelter beautification. More information on the fund can be found here.

Event details:

Saturday 29 April, 12.00pm. Official opening of the Lakeside Trail, complete with sculpture and seat.

Bason Botanic Gardens, 552 Rapanui Rd, Whanganui.

Bason Botanic Gardens website