Page 229 - Constructing Craft

Howard Williams’ design for a mural called ‘Facet Water Wall’ was selected. He was

required to supply working drawings, a schedule of operations, a model and
samples of the ceramic forms to be used and in July 1987, after consulting with the

‘public arts adviser’, Hamish Keith, he signed a Memorandum of Agreement with
Mainzeal Development. During this period businesses appeared to be committed to

this type of large-scale craft/art work. Williams discovered however, that when
buildings were refurbished little regard was paid to the craft/art work – or to the craft

artist. In 2006 Williams visited the building and found the mural had disappeared to

make way for a coffee bar. He still does not know if it was destroyed or if it was
49
covered by a grey metal wall. Williams later discovered that up to fifteen public
works he had produced had been destroyed over the years since they were

created. He was consulted in only one case. Such destruction of public craft and art
became wide-spread throughout New Zealand, indicating that the cultural value of
50
the work was limited by the fashion of the period in which it was created.

Howard Williams, Facet Water Wall. Photo: Anita Berman.

Constructing Craft