B.

Banded bricks

Behind the scenes

I used to bike down Durham street past the old Canterbury Society of Arts Gallery every morning on my way to work ...

... and think how ugly the pinkish steel bands were that had been placed around the structure for strengthening. But for all their ugliness, they appear to have worked very well, keeping the building upright on 4 September, 22 February and 13 June.

There are two parts to the original CSA Gallery, the first, in the foreground was designed by Benjamin Mountfort in 1890 while an addition, seen further up the street, was designed by R.D. Harman in 1894. Although now used as offices for the courts this humble looking building held not only the annual CSA exhibitions but also the annual Group exhibitions before the new gallery, now named COCA, was built around the corner on Gloucester Street in 1968.

Canterbury Society of Arts, Durham and Tuam streets

Canterbury Society of Arts, Durham and Tuam streets

Canterbury Society of Arts, Tuam street

Canterbury Society of Arts, Tuam street