The Grove consists of 16 ‘copper headed nails’ of various heights hammered into the pavement. The shou sugi ban method of burning the exterior of the wood and applying oils accentuates the hand scalloping and provides the wood with one of the best preservatives known.
Sue Elliott, Chair of the Trust, said the route to commission this work began with “the donation of some of the timbers and other relics from the Inconstant (later to be known as Plimmer’s Ark) for the Trust’s use in commissioning a sculpture. Sadly the semi-preserved wood proved unsuitable for a work located in the variable temperatures in Wellington’s outdoors. However, through our commissioning process, Glen provided an outstanding proposal: inspired by the copper headed nails he found among the artefacts, and used in shipbuilding in the 1800s. He proposed a grove of these nails ‘hammered’ into the reclaimed land, carved from timbers once used on the wharves.”
Glen Hayward says “This has been a marvellous opportunity for me as usually the process in the studio is such an intimate experience. Through the requirements of scale for this work I was coaxed into a telescopic relationship with the sculptures and working with a larger team.”
2022
Recycled wood from Wellington ferry wharves
Whitmore Plaza, Wellington Waterfront
With funding from Richard Nelson, Willis Bond & Co, LT McGuinness, Collin Post and many more.