Last time on the blog we talked about packaging and how our Victorian ancestors made do without plastic trays to wrap their cans of coke in (and all the rest of it). This week we’re going to take a closer … Continue reading →
Last time on the blog we talked about packaging and how our Victorian ancestors made do without plastic trays to wrap their cans of coke in (and all the rest of it). This week we’re going to take a closer … Continue reading →
A panel with Michael Bell, Steph Walker and Kiri Jarden. It’s almost 13 years since the devastating earthquake of 22 February 2011, which forced 70 percent of the Ōtautahi Christchurch CBD to be demolished. While the rebuild has been a slow and often difficult process in visions meeting reality, there is also much to celebrate in the city taking up the opportunity, through art and design, to remake it as a place for all.
Tina, the debut feature film of Miki Magasiva is a love letter to both Samoan culture and how choral music, across cultures, can assist people in change. The way art can enable acceptance of the richness of our difference. But Tina is also centrally about how Pasifika women are leaders in taking culture forward. The title translates in English as mother, or female elder. And in the lead role Anapela Polata'ivao plays Mareta, a mother struggling after the death of her daughter in the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake. Taking on a job as a teacher at a wealthy Pakeha-dominated private school, Mareta connects with kids who it turns out also really need support. She takes them all the way to the Big Sing National Choir Competition. Anapela Polata'ivao gives a remarkable performance. She is the constant, complex beating heart of this movie. As a director and actor Anapela has long played a significant leadership role in bringing Pacific voices to stage and screen, and last year became an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in recognition of her service. We welcomed her to Culture 101 to play 'Fast Favourites' where her choices were Lindah Lepou, Jordyn with a Why and writer directors Arianne Mnouchkine, Vela Manusaute and Nina Nawalowalo.
In the bringing together of art and mental health, Kim Morton is a champion. Following the Christchurch earthquakes, Kim founded Otautahi Creative Spaces, a busy creative community in inner city suburb Philipstown.
Artist and landscape architect Bridget Allen wouldn't have known how appropriate the name of her gardening business was to be when she set it up, out of Ilam art school and working at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. The name Regenerative Gardening Maintenance was prophetic given her city and its landscape was about to start regenerating. The 2010-2011 Canterbury earthquakes saw not only buildings turned to rubble, large tracts of land, including an area around Ōtākaro Avon River the size of two New York Central Parks, started to turn from suburbia back to nature. The red zone has been turning green ever since. In the wake of tragedy artists and gardeners came together to innovate and create new public spaces, with an eye on sustainability and community connection. Allen cofounded New Brighton sewing charity Stitch-o-Mat and retrained as a landscape architect. Since 2023 she has been the director of The Green Lab, which began after the quakes as Greening the Rubble, creating urban green spaces and events for connection, while also working with residents to make their own backyards more sustainable. Ever busy with working and planting bees, workshops to build habitats for plants and nature, and consultations to help people make their backyards more sustainable, on August 16 Bridget is running with The Green Lab Birds of Brighton printmaking workshops. It's at the Make Station in New Brighton Mall at 11am and 1pm. No experience is needed. She joined Culture 101's Mark Amery.
A photograph of Whole House Reuse item 490. This item was salvaged from 19 Admiral Way in New Brighton as part of the Whole House Reuse project.
A photograph of Whole House Reuse item 491. This item was salvaged from 19 Admiral Way in New Brighton as part of the Whole House Reuse project.
A photograph of Whole House Reuse item 492. This item was salvaged from 19 Admiral Way in New Brighton as part of the Whole House Reuse project.
A photograph of Whole House Reuse item 482. This item was salvaged from 19 Admiral Way in New Brighton as part of the Whole House Reuse project.
A photograph of Whole House Reuse item 483. This item was salvaged from 19 Admiral Way in New Brighton as part of the Whole House Reuse project.
A photograph of Whole House Reuse item 485. This item was salvaged from 19 Admiral Way in New Brighton as part of the Whole House Reuse project.
A photograph of Whole House Reuse item 486. This item was salvaged from 19 Admiral Way in New Brighton as part of the Whole House Reuse project.
A photograph of Whole House Reuse item 489. This item was salvaged from 19 Admiral Way in New Brighton as part of the Whole House Reuse project.
A photograph of Whole House Reuse item 484. This item was salvaged from 19 Admiral Way in New Brighton as part of the Whole House Reuse project.
A photograph of Whole House Reuse item 494. This item was salvaged from 19 Admiral Way in New Brighton as part of the Whole House Reuse project.
A photograph of Whole House Reuse item 487. This item was salvaged from 19 Admiral Way in New Brighton as part of the Whole House Reuse project.
A piece of personal experience writing about the Canterbury earthquakes, written by Max.
A digital copy of a pen and ink and watercolour painting by Raymond Morris, titled, 'Strange's & Co., 1899-2011'.
A digital copy of a pen and ink and watercolour painting by Raymond Morris, titled, 'Colombus & Ware, 650 Colombo Street'.
A digital copy of a pen and ink and watercolour painting by Raymond Morris, titled, '127 Lichfield Street, Christchurch'.
A digital copy of a pen and ink and watercolour painting by Raymond Morris, titled, 'The Twisted Hop Brewery, 6 Poplar Lane'.
A crowd watching a busker perform in the Re:Start mall during the World World Buskers Festival.
A digital copy of a pen and ink and watercolour painting by Raymond Morris, titled, 'Carlton Hotel, Bealey Avenue'.
A photograph of a bell from the Lyttelton Museum's collection. An antique half-round writing desk stands beside the bell.
A digital copy of a pen and ink and watercolour painting by Raymond Morris, titled, 'Poplars Apartments, Madras Street'.
A photograph of Whole House Reuse item 488. This item was salvaged from 19 Admiral Way in New Brighton as part of the Whole House Reuse project.
A digital copy of a pen and ink and watercolour painting by Raymond Morris, titled, '181 Victoria Street (Carlton Butchery), 2009'.
A large artwork is erected on the former site of the Press building during the LuxCity event.
A digital copy of a pen and ink and watercolour painting by Raymond Morris, titled, 'Shands Emporium, 88 Hereford Street'.