This Issue
Cover story
Christchurch Art Gallery is Ten: Highs and Lows
In recognition of the anniversary of the move of Christchurch's public art gallery from its former existence as the Robert McDougall in the Botanic Gardens to its new more central city location (now eerily empty), I've been asked by Bulletin's editor to recall some highs and lows of the last ten years. So here goes — and stay with me during this reflection, which takes the place of my usual foreword.
Of course, I haven't been director throughout the entire ten-year period, and I can't take credit for arguing for this new building, nor for planning and watching over the detail of its development. That glory belongs to my predecessors, both John Coley and, latterly and more directly, fundraiser and director-on-the-spot, Tony Preston. It was a long journey, as Preston himself noted in 2003: 'Debate waxed and waned, troughed and crested, until in 1969 there was a recommendation as a matter of urgency for a new building to replace the charming, but quite inadequate McDougall...'1
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Tony Oursler Sang 2008. Fibreglass form, BluRay, BluRay player, projector. Courtesy of the artist and Jensen Sydney and Fox/Jensen Auckland
Fall tension tension wonder bright burn want
Curator Felicity Milburn on Tony Oursler and the grotesque.
It’s our party and we’ll cry if we want to
On 10 May 2013, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu turns ten. Which is fantastic. But it's probably fair to say that there's a bittersweet quality to the celebrations around this particular anniversary, as it also marks two years and eleven weeks of closure for the Gallery, and catches us staring down the barrel of another two years without our home.
It's frustrating. And then some.
However, we're not going to let these little, ahem, inconveniences get in the way of our party. Populate! is our birthday programme, and it's our attempt to bring some unexpected faces and figures back to the depleted central city. Bulletin spoke to the Gallery's senior curator Justin Paton about what he really wants for the tenth birthday, what he finds funny, and what he really doesn't.
Table of Contents
Christchurch Art Gallery is Ten
Director Jenny Harper looks back on the highs and lows of the decade
The Decade In Review
Some figures, large and small
It's Our Party And We'll Cry If We Want To
Bulletin talks to Justin Paton about adaptation and our birthday programme
Populate!
Our tenth-birthday programme of art in the city—what's on, and where
Fall Tension Tension Wonder Bright Burn Want
Felicity Milburn on Tony Oursler and the grotesque
Jess Johnson
Wurm Whorl Narthex
Camp Blood
Hand-Painted Film Posters
Ronnie Van Hout
Comin' Down
I Think I Saw You Once Somewhere Before
Ken Hall looks into some faces from the collection
Mark Braunias
Groove Zone Shuffle
Yvonne Todd
Mood Sandwich
Wayne Youle
I seem to have temporarily misplaced my sense of humour
Gregor Kregar
Reflective Lullaby
Francis Upritchard
Believer
Peter Stichbury
NDE
Kay Rosen
Here are the people and there is the steeple
Dick Frizzell
Contacts
Judy Darragh
Sissy Squat
Steve Carr
Majo
Joanna Braithwaite
Lizard Lounge
Face Books
Richard Killeen
The Inner Binding
Roger Boyce
Painter Speaks
What You Should Be Now
Peter Vangioni interviews David Kilgour
Populate! Opening Weekend Events
A weekend of great free events to celebrate our birthday
Pagework #18
Wayne Youle
When The Low Went Very High
Jerry Saltz asks 'Who said public art can't be fun?'
Staff Profile
The Christchurch Art Gallery
Coming Soon
Sian Torrington