West Eyreton School / 2017

West Eyreton School Sculpture Project – 2017

In 2017, West Eyreton School approached me to help create a sculpture reflecting their five core values, known as the Five Es: excellence, empathy, example, enterprise, and effort.

We explored a range of design ideas before settling on five intertwined koru. It was a strong visual representation of the school’s values and also a design that worked beautifully at the entrance to the school. It gave the students something meaningful to build together.

Shortly after the project began, Shed Magazine approached me about running a story on my work. After discussion with the school and permission from parents, they featured this project in Issue 75. It was great to see the students’ work recognised in that way.

Small groups of children rotated through the process, learning how to saw, chisel, file, and sand the stone. Each group contributed to shaping the final form. When the sculpture was completed, it was installed in a garden setting at the front entrance of the school.

Not long after installation, I was invited back for a blessing ceremony — a special and fitting way to complete the project.

I really enjoyed working with West Eyreton School. The students and staff were fantastic to work alongside, and the finished sculpture sits naturally in its environment.