Doris Lusk artwork is a family affair

A new interactive artwork in Doris Lusk Reserve in Linwood Village pays homage to the artist the reserve is named after, and was designed by her granddaughters, Natasha English and Tatyanna Meharry.

The Pumping Station (1958) is one of Doris Lusk’s most iconic paintings and has been reimagined as an interactive sculpture that incorporates the Christchurch landscape and the suburb of Linwood, where the pumping station is located.

The sculpture, called Pumping Station Perspective, uses tubular metal lines that rise out of the ground to make hill and pumping station shapes which, when viewed from the paving feature, resembles Doris Lusk’s famous artwork.

Stand on the paving feature and see the view of Te-Pātaka-a-Rākaihautū the Port Hills and the pumping station come together or sit in the window and frame yourself into the picture. The bricks featured in the paving feature were created by members of the local community in a weekend workshop that took place at Meharry’s ceramics studio.

The original pump station still exists on Tuam Street.

The artwork was requested by the local community as part of the Linwood Village Master Plan.

“What makes this artwork particularly special is that the artists who designed it are granddaughters of artist Doris Lusk,” says Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board Chairperson, Emma Norrish.

“Having that close connection is remarkable; we’re thrilled to have been able to work with Natasha and Tatyanna on this project. It’s truly a celebration of the location, the neighbourhood and the people who lived and live here.”

The sisters have worked together on several creative projects, including winning two supreme awards at the World of Wearable Arts in 2013 and 2018. English is a designer and artisan who has worked across a variety of construction, design, and fashion projects. Meharry is a ceramicist and prominent local instructor whose work is found in galleries across New Zealand.

Doris Lusk Reserve adjoins the heritage-listed Linwood Community Arts Centre building and has been the venue for community festivals, including the Linwood Multicultural Festival and local Carols at Christmas.

Meanwhile the pump station still stands on its original site in Tuam Street and is now home to a salvage yard. The brick structure with arched windows and doors is one of the oldest remaining parts of the city's 19th century sewerage system, dating from the 1880s.  

A pop-up exhibition about the Waterworks Pumping Station No. 1 featuring plans and drawings will be on at Tūranga until 21 April.

The new Doris Lusk Reserve artwork.