Excavation work to enable the installation of a new piece of public art has started (Wednesday 11 July). The Guardian - Te Tairawhiti is to be installed outside Kathmandu in Gladstone Road. It will be sunk into the ground for stability and to give the illusion that it is rising from the earth.

The Guardian - Te Tair?whiti is a four-metre high plexiglass cylindrical sculpture designed to symbolise the meeting of two cultures. The sculpture will be illuminated at night. It will light up when the street lights come on.

Artists Drew Hill and Brett Crockett won an Art in Public Places competition to find design ideas for Gisborne's public places five years ago.

According to the artists the winning design fuses the two cultures to create the essence and spirit of the East Coast. It is about identity and connections within our region, our unique characteristics and cultural heritage.

The delay between winning the competition and this month's installation is all due to finding the budget required to complete the $65,000 project.

Art in Public Places Trustee Kay Crosby was responsible for fundraising. "The project would never have got to this stage without the generous contributions of trusts and business. These include BH Ritchie and Sons, Clark Charitable Trust, Creative Communities, Eastland Community Trust, Eastern and Central Community Trust, First Sovereign Trust, Hirepool, Opus Consultants, Professor J Richards and River Oak Views. Gisborne District Council contributed $20,000 to the project. Some organisations have donated to the costs and others have contributed time, expertise and resources." The Guardian - Te Tair?whiti will be unveiled once installed in Gladstone Road on Saturday 21 July at 5.30pm.�