It looks like Katikati’s most iconic sculpture won’t be home for Christmas on the main street this year.

The sculpture of ‘Barry, the Relaxed Typical Kiwi Bloke’ was removed from outside the Arts Junction at 36 Main Rd after he was damaged by a vehicle accident on April 27.

Katikati Open Air Art (KOAA) committee member Steve Graveson told Katikati News that while Barry’s seat had been fixed locally, Barry is yet to be repaired.

“The insurance company has received an estimated cost to repair Barry, but it has been difficult for the sculptor Donald Paterson to really give a true cost until he sees the total damage both inside and out.”

Barry was hit by a vehicle on Sunday night, April 27, and sustained a broken elbow and damaged arm. Photo / Steve Graveson

Where Paterson can source the materials required to repair Barry is also up in the air, said Graveson.

“Donald is working with the insurance company, but at this stage is unable to give a date for Barry’s return.

“Unfortunately, Donald now lives down the bottom of the West Coast, so is miles away,” said Graveson.

Jack - Barry’s dog

KOAA is the non-profit art group, founded in 1989, that commissioned and maintained the township’s murals and sculptures via its committee.

People had suggested using someone else to repair Barry but Graveson said: “Unless you know how he’s made and what he’s made up of you could destroy the integrity of Barry, so we’ve got to work with Donald”.

‘Jack’ – Barry’s dog’ was also damaged and removed from the scene by police the night of the accident. “It’s looking like Jack will have to go on his own little adventure as he will have to travel to Christchurch to be repaired at specialised foundry,” said Graveson. Again the timeline for this work is unknown.

Murals update

Meanwhile, the life of some of Katikati’s older murals was up in the air too.

KOAA’s mural ‘Those Who served’ – is on the former RSA building’s exterior which faces the corner of State Highway 2.

Earlier this year the building, accessed from Henry Rd, was put up for sale and is currently under contract with a buyer.

The location of mural ‘Those Who served’ – on the former RSA building’s exterior – is up in the air. Photo / Merle Cave

Graveson said this is a tricky situation for KOAA.

“If it [the building] gets sold and the new owner doesn’t want it there, we are probably obliged to take it down.”

Graveson said the mural was painted on panels by Geoffrey Fuller in his studio in Havelock North in 1996, then transported to Katikati and attached to the RSA building. It had since been repainted by artist Renee Te Pairi in 2011.

“Because of its age and the materials used back then it’s hard to remove this mural – which is attached to the building in panels – without causing any damage to it,” said Graveson.

“It’s the same story with the ‘Sunday in a Bush Camp’ mural [created in 1994 by artist Anne de Silva] that was taken down from the side of the Arts Junction building, when remedial work was done on the building this year.

“We tried to save some of those panels to see if we could recreate it in another mural but, again, because of the material they used back in those days – it was like a fibre-light board – it wasn’t possible,” Graveson said.

The location of mural ‘Those Who served’ – on the former RSA building’s exterior – is up in the air. Photo / Merle Cave

He said if KOAA had to take down the mural on the side of RSA building he would have the same trouble. “I hope it stays there – but also, in saying that it’s probably one of those murals that does need a major upgrade.”

Other murals in the town that needed an upgrade included ‘Te Whanau a Tauwhao’ – painted by Te Maari Gardinerm Turangi in 1999 – on Talisman Drive. “It’s the same – if we upgrade it is it better to put it on a new board that is going to last?”

Nearly 30

Graveson said some KOAA murals are nearly 30 years old “which is quite a long time for an outdoor mural, which faces all weather conditions 24/7”.

If the old RSA building’s new owner is happy to keep the mural, Graveson said he would find an artist to re-paint it and bring it back to life.

“It’s been touched up a few times but it needs a major overhaul.”

Today KOAA chooses an ACM material for its murals, “which is bulletproof just about”.

“This material doesn’t rot, and you can unscrew and use the panels again,” said Graveson.