In September 2017, I was commissioned by local legend Richard Steele to create a 4.5-metre Ruru carving for his family property at Kaitieke, just south of Taumarunui. Carved from a huge, rugged Rimu log, this was the largest commissioned carving I had undertaken to date. Working on a log of this size meant thinking beyond carving alone.
I had to build a large tripod with a block and chain system, allowing me to carefully rotate the heavy timber as the sculpture gradually took shape. There was plenty of problem-solving along the way with this piece, and it really brought out the chainsaw carver in me!
The finished piece features a Ruru perched above a sweeping koru, a design holding deep personal meaning for Richard and his family, standing tall amidst the native landscape of Kaitieke.
The unveiling was a day I'll never forget. Family, friends, locals and visitors gathered around the completed sculpture, and seeing everyone standing beneath it was an incredible moment. Watching Richard look up at the finished Ruru with such pride made every hour of work worthwhile.
Looking back, this commission gave me the confidence to keep saying yes to bigger ideas!
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