| A story
has been written by special
correspondent DON GRADY about us, my partner Anne, myself and our community. His
assignment covers writing about unusual people. It appeared in the Nelson
Mail, July 21st, 1998.
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COUPLE DISPLAY PASSION FOR
SCULPTURES 1 |
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When a black wattle tree
crashed to the ground at his home at the Rainbow Valley Community in the
Anatoki Valley, Gregor Koolen carved the stump into the nude figure of a
tree nymph.
His home patch within the community
is studded with nude carvings and sculptures. When Gregor has some spare time he
knocks off another carving.
In the bush 11 km inland from Takaka,
he and his partner, Anne Taylor, are creating their own legacy in
woodcarvings, statuary and garden ornaments.
They find the carvings and sculptures
restful, beautiful and relaxing and in harmony with their natural, river
valley environment. The community has four other sculptors who carve
figures and geometric designs. One has made a big sculpture of a kissing
couple. |
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Tree nymph |
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Gregor, born in Holland but brought up in
Australia, migrated to New Zealand as a young tramper with a motorbike. He
carves some of the statuary and figures as expressions of love and as presents
to his partner. His favourite medium is wood, and he is widely known in the (RV)
community as the woodcarver.
Hidden away from prying eyes, the creations
in nude form have been accruing over the years. You never know what is around
the next corner.
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Gregor and Anne, who've chosen to live and
build their lives in the Rainbow Valley Community for the past 20 years, find
great peace and relaxation in their sculptures and carvings.
Their outdoor collection begins at the
front gate of their own home area within the community. Five Celtic faces carved
in pine fence posts are an appetizer for the carvings and sculptures
within their boundary.
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Celtic heads on posts |
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One of the most intriguing of the presents from
Gregor to Anne is a sculpture of lovers painstakingly hewn from
Oamaru stone. It sits in a romantic outdoor setting on the surrounds of the
outdoor bath where the couple bathe together with the Anatoki River gurgling in
the background.
Alongside a beautiful wall of stones from
the nearby Anatoki River. Gregor's sculpture
shows too nude lovers clasping each other tightly in deep embrace.
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Path and courtyard |
Lovers |
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