WuHoo And Aigantighe Art History Sign at the Port Loop Rd - Mollie Stevens
I’m so excited to announce the newest addition to the Timaru Art History Trail — a beautiful new sign featuring Ports and Journeys No.1 (1967) by Astrid Mary Davies, later known as Mollie Steven (1906–1999). This striking view of Timaru’s Port adds another layer to our growing outdoor gallery and brings a fresh female perspective to the waterfront story.
Big thanks to the Friends of the Aigantighe Art Gallery, Aigantighe Art Gallery, and the amazing team at South Canterbury Museum for helping bring this project to life. Mollie was part of a wave of New Zealand artists working at the edge of tradition and modernism. She studied art in Ōtautahi Christchurch and exhibited alongside some of my favourite Canterbury legends — Rita Angus and Colin McCahon. She made Timaru her home in the 1960s, living on Beverley Road until 1972, painting at the same time as local art heroes like Clifford Brunsden and Vivna Lynn. Her work blends strong design with movement and mood — and Ports and Journeys No.1 is a perfect example. I love how it offers a modern, abstract take on the port, in contrast to some of the other artworks featured on the trail.
This sign has been crafted to last. Thompson Engineering made the galvanised steel frame, and the sign itself is a high-quality reproduction of Mollie’s painting from the Aigantighe’s permanent collection. It’s printed on ACM board with a protective anti-graffiti coating so it will stay vibrant in the elements. You can find the sign at the carpark on Loop Road, off Marine Parade. It’s a great spot to start or end a walk along the bay toward Patiti Point, following the rest of the art history trail. Art, place, and local stories... all together on the coast. Come check it out, and let us know what you think.
? For more on Mollie Steven’s life and art, check out this article from the Timaru Herald (2019).