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Sutton House
[To view Sutton House, turn left at the brick pumphouse and Templar Street (gravel path joins up with the street). Entrance to the house is on special open days only.]
I’m particularly proud of my fantail tail. It’s gorgeous, don’t you think?
Us birds love to admire the patterns of each other’s feathers, but I’m told you humans enjoy creating and viewing art. Sculpture, painting and other sorts of creativity.
Your human art continues to flourish here at Sutton House, at 20 Templar Street.
The home was built for renowned landscape and portrait painter WA (Bill) Sutton (1917 – 2000). The site now hosts artists in residence (plus us birds in the garden).
Sutton lived here for 38 years. It’s where most of his well known works were painted. Luckily, a protective covenant was put in place by the Christchurch City Council two years after his death. This helped ensure the heritage house and garden were saved from Red Zone demolition after the earthquakes.
Because of the unique set of circumstances, Sutton House is the only heritage residence in the whole of the Red Zone to survive. Now owned by the city council, the building is leased by the Trust, which administers the house, garden and surrounding park. It also runs the residency and promotes Sutton’s work.
The site has a category 1 listing from Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. This means it’s a place of “exceptional historical or cultural significance”. Sutton himself was recognised during his lifetime: he was appointed a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1980 for services to art.
I’m told art contributes to human society: it can celebrate or highlight something (such as feelings or culture); sometimes it challenges and provokes.
Why is art important to you? What does public art contribute to the city?
Links:
Sutton house and garden
http://www.suttonhouseandgarden.org.nz/
Artworks
https://christchurchartgallery.org.nz/exhibitions/wa-sutton-a-retrospective
Bill Sutton interview
https://christchurchartgallery.org.nz/multimedia/artist-interviews/bill-sutton-3
Artist bio
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Sutton_(artist)
http://www.suttonhouseandgarden.org.nz/bill-sutton/