First dibs on a Dibble

Passer-by on Queenstown’s Gorge Rd on Tuesday were greeted by the rare sight of some seriously large bronze sculptures being lifted off a truck.

They’re appearing in a Dibble Studio exhibition at Milford Galleries launching this Saturday — the studio was founded by New Zealand’s greatest ever sculptor, the late Paul Dibble, and his wife Fran.

Pictured is the 2.5m Referencing Dialogue of Two Huia — depicting two extinct huia birds and a kowhai flower — dwarfing gallery director Stephen Higginson.

— PHILIP CHANDLER