Kirsty Mathieson, our Administration and Business Support team leader reads 'Girls in a Factory' by Denis Glover.

It's perfectly timed at 21 seconds - just right for washing away those nasty viruses.

Kia ora koutou. Hello.

I want to let our supporters and art lovers know what we are doing in these difficult times, and how you can still find moments of relief and escape through art. Like much of the world, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū is temporarily closed to our visitors and our staff. Like many of you are experiencing in your own lives, we’ve needed to figure out new ways of working, staying connected as a team, and working out what we can offer and ways that might help us to engage, inspire and connect you with great art and ideas.

Today Gallery Director Blair Jackson, sometime resident of Dunedin, reads the poem Dunedin by Edith Howes.

That completes one week of lockdown, but hands still need washing thoroughly.

This poem by Denis Glover is a direct response to a painting now in the Gallery's collection. It is kindly read by his grand-daughter Pia Glover.

Keep scrubbing those hands.