Poseidon Extreme

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A digitally manipulated image of the high diving boards at QEII swimming pool. Rubble has fallen on the boards during the demolition of the complex. A sign reads "Poseidon Extreme". The photographer comments, "I do not know what Poseidon Extreme at this swimming pool looked like before the earthquake damaged it, but it looks really radical now during it's demolition. A strange coincidence is that Poseidon is referred to as 'Earth-Shaker' due to his role in causing earthquakes. So the demolition of this pool due to the series of quakes in Christchurch all seems to be foretold by the gods and that sign".

Safe Dust

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A digitally manipulated image of printer's type, spelling out "Safe Dust". The photographer comments, "After the September 2010 Christchurch earthquake liquefaction poured out of the ground mostly in the East of Christchurch. This silt, which was a form of sand was declared safe and would not harm gardens if it was spread around in moderation. After the February 2011 quake as a result of even more liquefaction and the sewers being ruptured, the liquefaction was declared as toxic. People clearing it up should wear a mask, boots and gloves especially when it had dried up and become dusty. This just so happens to be the words found on an old printing press".

Stone By Precious Stone

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A protest sign painted on a fence shows an image of the cathedral spire and the words "Save + restore, stone by precious stone!" The photographer comments, "The Christchurch Cathedral got very badly damaged in the earthquake. It was being demolished down to a safe level before a major protest managed to stop it going too far. There is still an ongoing debate on what to do with the Cathedral. In the meantime a cardboard cathedral made out of a steel framework and massive toilet roll tubes is being constructed close by. This is to the right of the protest about the closure of Christchurch schools".

When Are They Going to Reveal the Secret?

Images, UC QuakeStudies

The dome of the Isaac Theatre Royal covered in sheeting and suspended in the backstage area. In the foreground, a small digger sits on the bed of a truck, and a crane is visible to the left. The photographer comments, "This is the 'dome' of the Isaac Theatre Royal's heritage stage. The front section of the theatre has stayed and so has the back, but the middle has been completely demolished. The best way to hide a secret is in plain sight. Could this really be an ancient UFO stored secretly in the old theatre for decades and now exposed by the earthquake? Is the waiting crane and transporter ready to whip it away to another secret location in the dead of night?".

Close the Schools and Build the Jails

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A protest sign painted on a fence shows a bulldozer labelled "Govt." driven by a woman (presumably representing Education Minister Hekia Parata) running over a sheep labelled "Chch schools", next to the words "Every time you close a school you have to build a jail - Mark Twain." The photographer comments, "Due to the earthquakes in Christchurch and parents leaving the area to give their children a quieter and more education friendly life a lot of the local schools especially in the East of Christchurch are to be closed or amalgamated. This was a decision by the government without consultation with any other authorities. Mark Twain actually said 'Every time you stop a school, you will have to build a jail'".

A Giant Sized Game of Monopoly

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A digitally manipulated image of the Gap Filler Monopoly board square on Manchester Street. The photographer comments, "On the site of a demolished earthquake damaged building in Christchurch, New Zealand is a Monopoly game square for giants. The Gap Filler Project makes the bare land where once a building once stood into something both interesting and unique and this time they created a massive Monopoly board square. In the game of Monopoly you move your player with a dog, shoe or maybe the hat, but as the most common thing in the City are diggers they have the placed one on the square. There are also two houses on Manchester Street, which is priced at $240".

Keeping a Sense of Normality

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Part of Mike Hewson's installation 'Homage To Lost Spaces' in the Cramner Courts building, a photograph of a young man working at a desk has been inserted into a gap in the building. The photographer comments, "Cranmer Courts in Christchurch, New Zealand was very badly damaged in the earthquakes that have rocked the City for the past two years. Mike Hewson thought he would try to bring life back into the buildings by putting photographs into the spaces where the doors and windows were. There was a month or so when no one seemed to know or admit who had put the pictures up, but it was done officially. It seems that though very badly damaged the buildings may get restored".

MARYROSE CROOK, PURPLE PILGRIMS, THJE

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A poster advertising performers Maryrose Crook, Purple Pilgrims and Thje. The photographer comments, "Maryrose Crook, Purple Pilgrims, Thje. Saturday 26 Feb (2011). HSP 9PM $5. HSP stands for High Street Project. Here is the introduction for her concert 'Maryrose Crook's spectral voice and calenture tunes float through New Zealand giants, The Renderers' psychic country-punk and splatter rock, and emerge in her solo encounters with horripilated grace and filigree menace. Purple pilgrims' wraithish hymns evolve through a braided field of curled nautical drone and distant littoral roar, abstract thrums and change-rung celestial rustle'. She was supposed to perform on 26 February, but I am guessing the concert was cancelled due to the major earthquake in Christchurch on the 22nd. The horrendous quake made the venue at 84 Lichfield Street out of limits due to it being in the dangerous earthquake red zone. It looks like she next performed on the 17 May at the Loons in Lyttelton".

Remembering the 22nd February 2011

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Graffiti on a wooden wall depicts a child pointing at a site across the street and reads "I remember when the Kazbah was over there." The photographer comments, "A local street artist has commemorated Christchurch's deadliest earthquake. The anniversary is tomorrow. Where the photograph was taken was the site of the Ozone Hotel, which has now gone as well. For some of us who live and work in the East of Christchurch the earthquake was not what happened in the City as we were almost unaware of it. We had no water, toilets and most of all no electricity for weeks. For myself petrol was low and with tales of all the petrol stations on our side of town being damaged we could not take the chance of venturing out on severely damaged roads to find no petrol and the possibility of not getting home. We walked around and saw the damage that was local to us. TJ's Kazbah was one that stood out. A building that had a beauty with its round tower standing proud and always looked well kept - it was now collapsed. Its tower, which was once pointing towards the sky was laying on its side. It had kept its shape, but had a lightning shaped crack through it. The one thing that kept us feeling almost normal through the coming weeks was The Press our daily paper still being delivered even though the Press building and staff had suffered so badly themselves.