The first public sculpture in Alexandra has been unveiled, blessed, dedicated and greeted with a gasp of approval.
The $10,000 polished stainless steel work by Russell Beck, of Invercargill, is on the Centennial Ave side of Pioneer Park, in front of the tennis courts.
It was unveiled at the Alexandra Thyme Festival's gala evening on Saturday.
Co-ordinator Kathi McLean said the event was the highlight of the week-long festival.
"It was a very moving ceremony which included a Maori blessing and, when the sculpture was finally revealed, there was silence, then sounds of approval from everyone.
"That's what we wanted for the first public sculpture and, hopefully, this is the beginning of a whole string of public art works," she said.
It was funded by the Alexandra Community Arts Council with proceeds from several years of arts-related events going towards the project.
Mr Beck designed the work, which is a stylised version of a geological cross-section of the Manuherikia basin, and it was made by his son, Andrew.
About 120 hours of work had gone into the project and it depicts the geological faults which displaced the land to form the Dunstan Range, Crawford Hills and Raggedy Range.
The grooves represent the Clutha and Manuherikia Rivers.
Mrs McLean was pleased with the success of the festival, which included art and music workshops, lectures, concerts, gardens, exhibitions and walks.
"We've certainly found our niche with this low-key festival and the community have really embraced it," she said.
New activities this year included a gospel singing workshop, a ukulele jam and the Cardboard Cup boat race on the Manuherikia River.
The festival concluded yesterday with a market day, and a children's talent quest which attracted 18 entries, and which was won by gymnasts Taylor (10) and Bailey (7) McCaughan, of Alexandra.
