Artist's Flags to Fly at ANZAC Memorial Kaiparoro and Six Wairarapa Towns - celebrating peace, horses and ANZAC Day
What happens when an artist loves horses, photography, textiles and children’s art? Artist-designed flags will fly across six towns and at the ANZAC Memorial Bridge at Kaiparoro for the annual Service (2pm).
The ANZAC Bridge Fellowship for 2020/2021 honours the horses that went to war. It was awarded to Esther Bunning, NZ Professional Photographer of the Year, and a portrait artist experienced in photographing people as well as the wild Kaimanawa horses in the central plateau.
For the ANZAC Bridge Fellowship project, Esther photographed the ANZAC Mounted Troopers – Les Chevaliers from Eketāhuna and Amuri Mounted Rifles Troop from the ANZAC Mounts Charitable Trust, Equine Rehab Unit, from North Canterbury – who rode in formation from Eketāhuna to the ANZAC Memorial Bridge on Armistice Day 2020. Esther also collaborated with the Mauriceville School community to create words and pictures for the flags.
At almost 2 metres long, the fabric banners elegantly reflect the movement and energy of the horses.
“The stories of the horses that went to war are timeless,” artist Esther Bunning adds, “and I believe that we can always learn from these beautiful animals.”
Jean McCombie, Chair of NZ Pacific Studio, says, “NZ Pacific Studio is proud to have awarded Esther Bunning the ANZAC Bridge Fellowship. The banners across Wairarapa are a poignant and visible display for all to see, and reflect on. We thank Trust House for their continued sponsorship, and the various Councils, Community Boards, and our corporate sponsor, too – a true community togetherness in the name of art and peace.”
The flags will fly for the ANZAC Day Service at the ANZAC Memorial Bridge at Kaiparoro Mount Bruce, and across six towns: Eketāhuna, with support from Eketāhuna Mellemskov Museum; Masterton, with support from Masterton District Council; Carterton, with support from Carterton District Council; Greytown, with support from Greytown Community Board; Featherston, with support from Property Brokers Featherston; and Martinborough with support from Martinborough Community Board.
The ANZAC Bridge Fellowship, shared by NZ Pacific Studio and Friends of ANZAC Bridge, began in 2006. Artists plan a public activity at the annual service, and collaborate with the nearby community. Over the years, artists have woven a harakeke cloak for the bridge; written postcards for soldiers; sung ballads; made links with a memorial bridge in Brooweena, Australia, and planned an exhibition honouring the women who ran the Aotea Convalescent Home for NZ soldiers in WWI Egypt.
Friends of ANZAC Bridge Fellows
2006 Jodi Rose, Performance Artist, USA
2007 Fifi Colston, Author and Visual Artist, NZ
2008 Patricia Bulitt, Dancer, USA
2009 Wild Geese, Folk Music Band, NZ
2010 Leahlani Johnson, Mixed Media Artist, Australia
2011 Fifi Colston, Author and Visual Artist, NZ
2012 Lucy Jerram Moore, Visual Artist, NZ
2013 Lucy Jerram Moore, Visual Artist, NZ
2014 Anna Borrie, Environmental Artist, NZ
2015 Connah Podmore, Multi-disciplinary Artist, NZ
2016 Philippa Werry, Author, NZ
2017 Christine Yardley, Sculptor and Performer, NZ/Australia 2018 Rebecca Holden, Visual Artist, NZ
2019 Karen Wrigglesworth, Author and Engineer, NZ 2020/2021 Esther Bunning, Portrait Artist/Photographer, NZ
DETAILS for ANZAC Day, Sunday, 25th April, 2pm
-All welcome to the ANZAC Day Service at 2pm at the ANZAC Memorial Bridge, Kaiparoro, Mt Bruce, SH2
-10 banners designed by Esther Bunning will fly at the Bridge, with a short parade led by schoolchildren and horses
-Parking at Miller Reserve, where there is a short walkway to the Bridge (Friends of ANZAC Bridge maintains this walkway)
-Drop-off for elderly/disabled only at the northern end of the Bridge
-Afternoon tea held after the Service, at nearby Pukāha, $5 per person
Posted: Mon 19 Apr 2021