The Road to Gibbs Farm
A few years ago we started traveling regularly we started brainstorming a list of dream places to visit. Gibbs Farm was my very first entry.
I had seen videos, blog posts, news articles, etc, about this mysterious farm in the New Zealand countryside that had an impressive collection of modern art. The Auckland Art Gallery described it as:
‘400 hectares of re-formed farmland on the Kaipara Harbour. The privately owned park is home to an internationally renowned collection of large-scale sculptures by some of the world’s leading artists, commissioned and curated by Alan Gibbs over the past 30 years.’
Gerry Judah Jacob’s Ladder 2017
I had tried for a few years to find ways to buy tickets, ask permission to visit, and even emailed the owners directly, but no luck.
So when I came across a fundraiser event at Gibbs being offered by Gutter Kitties in Auckland, I grabbed two tickets without giving it a second thought. Did we have flights booked? Nope. Had I asked for time off work? Nope. But what I did have was two tickets to enter the farm and the knowledge that the money went to support kitties in need in NZ. Crazy? Maybe a little.
Now that I had these tickets, we booked the flights, accommodation, etc, but as it turned out we needed to book a car as well, as there is no other way to get to the farm. All booked and ready to roll. Aotearoa New Zealand, here we come.
The day drew ever closer, and I must admit, there was a part of me that worried that this place, this vision that I had built up in my imagination would not live up to my expectations. That I would be dragging my partner out to some remote farm without any pay off.
The visit was a hundred times better than I even imagined. Worth all of the time, the frustration and the gamble. The rolling NZ hills were beautiful, the sculptures were otherworldly, and the roaming Alpaca herd were just delightful. I could write for days about the experience, but I think the photos really say more.
Enjoy.
Anish Kapoor Dismemberment, Site 1 2009 (Note the person in the blue jacket for scale)
Bernar Venet 88.5 ARC x8 2012
(background) Neil Dawson Horizons 1994
(foreground) Leon van den Eijkel Red Cloud Confrontation in Landscape 1996
Sol Le Witt Pyramid (Keystone NZ) 1997
Alpacas - not a sculpture, actual alapacas
Richard Thompson Untitled (Red Square/Black Square) 1994
Richard Serra Te Tuhirangi Contour 1999/2001
Reflections
The highlight for me was the Anish Kapoor work. The size, the scale, the colour, it felt like some building-sized alien trumpet had crash landed in the default wallpaper from Windows XP. Any photos really don’t do it justice. As someone who is from Chicago, and has taken many a photo with Cloudgate, it was something to experience.
The other piece that struck a chord with me was Te Tuhiangi Contour by Richard Serra. Considering the current political climate, the most obvious parallels we overheard others drawing about this piece was to the wall that ‘45’ attempted to build. However, the piece itself follows one curve that you would see on a topographical map of the farm. And if you look closely, you’ll see a line about hip hight that has appeared. Turns out, the resident sheep enjoy rubbing up against the warm steep and have alltered the work over time.
Practicalities
Tips for getting tickets
Auckland Art Gallery does occasionally offer guided tours. But be aware that this is entry only, not transportation to/from the Farm
Generally, tickets are sold through charities and are fundraising activities. (Try Googling ‘Gibbs Farm charity event’ ). Websites like Humantix and Eventbrite seem to be the only ones that sell the tickets on behalf of the charities.
Having tried to get tickets for a while, it looks like Friday is the most common day the farm is open.
On the day of your visit
Getting there - Gibbs Farm is about a one hour drive north of Auckland. There is no public transportation from Auckland.
Parking - there is limited parking in the paddocks around the farm.
Walking - It is VERY hilly. There is a road that winds its way around the farm, but there is a lot of walking up, down and around the farm. Wear good footwear, bring a hat and possibly an umbrella too. There are limited benches, you may find yourself leaning against a tree to eat your supermarket sandwich.
Weather - These events run rain or shine. Be prepared for any weather on the day. As you can see from the above photos, you really can get 4 seasons in one day
Amenities - There are a few port-a-loos around the farm, use them when you see them. There are no shops on the farm, so bring enough food/water, sunscreen and whatever else you need for your party for the day. Oh, and please take your rubbish with you.
0984/2421 Kaipara Coast Highway, Makarau 0984, Aotearoa New Zealand
