Wellington says goodbye to Giant Hand Sculpture

November 5, 2024

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In Wellington, New Zealand, a large and unusual sculpture known as Quasi is being taken down from atop the City Gallery after five years.

This 16.4-foot-tall sculpture, created by artist Ronnie van Hout, features a giant hand with a human face based on van Hout’s own features. Since its arrival in 2019, Quasi has stirred mixed reactions, with many people on social media describing it as “disturbing.”

Jane Black, Chair of the Wellington Sculpture Trust, acknowledged that while the sculpture may have shocked some, it became a unique symbol of the city’s creativity. In a City Council release, she described how Quasi arrived dramatically by helicopter and added a distinct touch to the skyline, even earning recognition from Time magazine for reflecting Wellington’s “quirkiness.”

The sculpture will be taken down on Saturday and is set to be shipped to Australia, though its new location has yet to be announced.

Article written by Milli Banbury

This article was written using AI as an assistive tool for research and writing.

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Digital Thinking

Last week, Room 9 went on camp near Lake Ōkataina. During the three days, the class practised setting up tents, cooking simple meals, and following safety rules around the lake. They also took part in a night walk, a team challenge course, and a short study of native birds. Although the weather changed often, the students kept working together. Their teacher said the camp was designed to build independence, teamwork, and confidence. By the end of the trip, many students said they felt more capable of doing hard things without help.

Which statement best shows the main idea of the passage?

The class studied native birds near the lake. The weather changed several times during camp. Students enjoyed the night walk and team challenge. The camp was mainly about helping students build useful life skills.