The Giant Poppy Gift to France

In 2015 the world's largest poppy was created from thousands of heartfelt messages on metail poppy discs in the Auckland Domain, The Giant Poppy Art Installation is now going to rest on the soil of France.

The small French town of Arras plans to replicate The Giant Poppy Art Installation in the Town Square in April 2017. This will complete the circle I always envisaged when I first created the artwork in the Auckland Domain to commemorate those who protected our freedom and democracy.

My name is Tony McNeight and during the WW1 commemorations in 2015 I created The Giant Poppy Art installation in the Auckland Domain. I laid 59,000 metal poppy discs with the help of New Zealanders and visitors who placed their poppy petal messages of love and respect.

As an artist I was influenced to create The Giant Poppy Art Installation as I had a deep connection through family who had fought and died in both World Wars.

I had a dream to create a commemorative art piece where everyone was able to engage. I personally went out and raised the funds for The Giant Poppy Art Installation in the Auckland Domain from generous donors, sponsorships, philanthropists and supporters from all over New Zealand.

The invitation for The Giant Poppy Art Installation to be placed on the soil of France is the ultimate outcome of my dream and I am seeking the support of the New Zealand community to make it happen.

THE FRENCH CONNECTION

One cool evening in late April 2015, Frederic Leturque the Mayor of Arras, a town in France, came down to the Auckland Domain and paid his respects to the men of New Zealand that had protected his town and his people.

He placed one of the red metal poppy petals with a heartfelt message that then became part of The Giant Poppy Art installation. He was there to pay his respects to the New Zealanders that had protected his town and his people a century before.

The effect of the Poppy and the way it engaged people resonated with the Mayor and he recently asked me if Arras could replicate The Giant Poppy Art Installation in their town square in April 2017. 

New Zealand has a unique and warm relationship with Arras. During World War 1 NZ soldiers were key in building massive tunnels under the town which were important for quartering animals and troops and tunneling behind enemy lines.

A memorial to the New Zealand tunnellers who lost their lives was unveiled at Arras on 8 April 2007. An underground museum, Carri�re Wellington incorporates parts of the tunnel system.
http://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/arras-tunnels

IN SUMMARY

We are fundraising to get a team member and myself to France to build The Giant Poppy Art Installation with the people of Arras to share with France as a gift from New Zealand for this important commemoration.

The Giant Poppy Art Installation has to start being built on April 1 so I am on a very tight deadline due to a late invitation and the fact it is too late to approach traditional sources of funds.

Join me on the journey to realise this siginificant artwork.