Frustrated by a lack of progress after a number of
meetings, founding director of the Govett-Brewster John Maynard (and the person
responsible for setting it on its course as a leader in contemporary art over
the last 42 years) has publically called for a halt to building of the Len Lye
Centre.
In a letter to today's Council meeting addressed to
the Mayor and Councillors of the New Plymouth District Council, John Maynard claims
the current building project of “over
exaggerated cultural benefits and underestimated costs”. The letter calls for the Council “to apply common sense to the
problem … send the Len Lye Centre back to the drawing board… incorporate the
Gallery extension and insist that the design complies with the architectural
brief and the budget.”
Maynard gives five reasons for this Hail Mary pass
to stop the plan.
·
The
failure of the proposed design to provide the museum standards outlined in the
brief.
·
The
ongoing costs of maintaining a stainless steel façade (Maynard points to the
stained base of Lye’s Wind Wand as an example of the problem)
·
The
waste (Maynard estimates around $4million) involved in demolishing the Award-winning
1998 extension as part of the project
·
The
risk to TSB and the New Plymouth Council of further commitments if the project
runs over budget
·
Under-estimation
of the budget
Maynard describes the Patterson-designed Centre as
“dull, pompous and self important” and “an empty metaphor
for a great artist who was known for playfulness, wit and humour.”
