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25 November, 2020
New sculpture honours leading arts figure
The Lake House Arts Centre celebrated its 20th anniversary last week with an unveiling of a new permanent sculpture.
The sculpture Her Hands Around Our Community by New Zealand artist Bill Hayes celebrates Genevieve Becroft, who led the rescue and restoration of the Lake House 20 years ago.
“I thought the sculpture was quite fitting as it reflects how Genevieve has been helping to shape and form a close community over the years,” said Hayes.
Hayes has been running his ceramics workshop at the centre for more than a decade, exhibiting some of his work at the Art by the Sea gallery in Devonport.
The new bronze sculpture has Becroft’s hands wrapped around a ceramic bowl.
The sculpture was commissioned six months ago by the Lake House Trust, with contributions made by Lake House Arts life members. It will be displayed at the centre’s front entrance.
Around 50 people attended the event to honour past managers and supporters of the arts centre.
On display in the Becroft gallery were a series of interviews with founding members.
A long-time resident of Takapuna, Becroft has been a patron of the arts, and helped save some of the North Shore’s heritage buildings.
Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Member Trish Deans said, “It is amazing that 20 years ago people had the foresight to keep this building for the arts and the community.”
Members shared fond memories of the restoration of the Lake House Becroft recalled having to sand down the doors.
In 1996, Lake House was moved to Barrys Point Reserve, which was operated as a landfill by Takapuna City Council from 1940 to 1970. The house was cut into seven pieces and stood on pallets for a year while a special platform and base was built to meet landfill gas-mitigation requirements.
It was reassembled on its new site in 1997 and restoration began. It was opened to the public by then-North Shore City councillor Becroft in 2000.
Becroft was also one of the key people involved in the rescue, renovation and restoration of the PumpHouse.
She continues to support many local charities with her time and through the Becroft Foundation.
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