Materials
The material used for this piece is Tōtara. The log used for this Talking Pole was donated by the Te Putahitanga O Nga Ara Trust.
Tōtara wood is red, straight-grained and easy to work; although rather brittle, it is one of the most durable timbers known. In the early days of European settlement Tōtara was used extensively for house piles, house frames and for fence posts. Being resistant to teredo worm, it was also used in the piling of many early wharves.
To the Māori people the Tōtara was a symbol of strength and goodness. From these trees they made their canoes and their carved whare whākairo, pātaka and food boxes. The bark was used for thatching and for making storage vessels.
Artist Notes
Davey is from Titahi Bay, Porirua, and is an educator as well as being an artist. His sculpture is based on what the inside of a crayfish looks like. Davey's piece was initially burnt in a fire and he has kept this look on the back of the sculpture. He believes that although something as violent as a lighting strike can strike a growing tree, something good can come from it, something positive.
Location Map
