ARTIST FLAGS TO FLY AT BRIDGE AND 6 WAIRARAPA TOWNS – celebrating peace, horses and ANZAC Day   

What happens when an artist loves horses, photography, textiles and children’s art?  Artist-designed flags will fly across six towns and at the ANZAC Memorial Bridge at Kaiparoro for the annual Service (2pm).

The ANZAC Bridge Fellowship for 2020/2021 honours the horses that went to war. It was awarded to Esther Bunning, NZ Professional Photographer of the Year 2020: a portrait artist experienced in photographing people as well as the wild Kaimanawa horses in the central plateau. For the ANZAC Bridge Fellowship project, Esther photographed the ANZAC Mounted Troopers – Les Chevaliers from Eketāhuna and Amuri Mounted Rifles from North Canterbury – who rode in formation from Eketāhuna to the Memorial Bridge on Armistice Day 2020. She also collaborated with the Mauriceville School community to create words and pictures for the flags. 

At almost 2 metres long, the fabric banners elegantly reflect the movement and energy of the horses.

Jean McCombie, Chair of NZ Pacific Studio, says, “NZ Pacific Studio is proud to have awarded Esther Bunning the ANZAC Bridge Fellowship. The banners across Wairarapa are a poignant and visible display for all to see, and reflect on. We are grateful for the support from Trust House, the various Councils and Community Boards, and our corporate sponsor, too – a true community togetherness in the name of art and peace.”

“The stories of the horses that went to war are timeless,” artist Esther Bunning adds, “and I believe that we can always learn from these beautiful animals.”

The flags will fly for the ANZAC Day Service at the ANZAC Memorial Bridge at Kaiparoro Mount Bruce, and across six towns: Eketāhuna, with support from Eketāhuna Mellemskov Museum; Masterton, with support from Masterton District Council; Carterton, with support from Carterton District Council; Greytown, with support from Greytown Community Board; Featherston, with support from Property Brokers South Wairarapa; and Martinborough with support from Martinborough Community Board.

The ANZAC Bridge Fellowship, shared by NZ Pacific Studio and Friends of ANZAC Bridge, began in 2006. Artists plan a public activity at the annual service, and over the years, the community has woven a harakeke cloak for the bridge; written postcards for soldiers; sung ballads; and learned about a memorial bridge in Brooweena, Australia, and about the women who ran the Aotea Convalescent Home for NZ soldiers in WWII Egypt.