This Local Artist Wants Your Name on Her Giant Playable Sculpture

Headland Sculpture is New Zealand’s premier outdoor sculpture exhibition, located along two kilometres of pristine coastal land on Waiheke Island. It was listed as one of the top art events in the world to visit courtesy of the New York Times, and managed to attract 45,000 visitors in 2013.

Next year's free event will run from January 23 to February 15, featuring 31 pieces of work from emerging and established artists.

One of those artists is, Cushla Donaldson, whose work is known for being witty and thought provoking. Think giant banana boat ice-cream, oversized pizza and a phallic knob inside a deep freeze.

For Headland Sculpture 2015, Donaldson has been selected by curators to present her first large scale outdoor work, The Precariats. The large pyramid structure, constructed from steel pipe, will comprise larger than life objects, smaller sculptures, cast signatures and plaques that all pay homage to companies, community groups and organisations she admires.

Thanks to felt tipped drum sticks, all sculptures will be “playable” by the public as percussive instruments. Donaldson has also managed to rope in local musicians Jeff Henderson, Ivan Mrsic, Emily Edrosa, Bonnie Strides, Die! Die! Die!, Miss June and Power Nap to incorporate the sculpture into their own performances over several nights of the exhibition.

Having worked with sponsors in a number of previous exhibitions, Donaldson is looking to incorporate support directly, to show how creative work is currently actualised. Contributors via her Kickstarter campaign will get there very own individual artwork within the sculpture. Each uniquely branded piece will be made to exist using bronze, concrete, or other materials.