B.

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.

Edward Ogle performs Rain Rain Go Away

I don't know about where you are, but in Christchurch today we really do have rain rain. This is a tricky one because we really need that rain, but I also need a walk round the block this afternoon!

This one is only 18 seconds long, but you'll be smiling for at least two extra seconds when it ends, so it will still work very nicely as a timer for your hand-washing .

Poet, critic and curator Greg O'Brien wrote this poem after happening upon Pip Culbert's Pup Tent while visiting the Gallery in 2016.

But there is more to it than that, because our own curator Peter Vangioni then hand-printed the poem and it was published in a limited edition by Kowhai Press. You can see pictures of this exquisite publication below.

Greg has kindly read the poem while we are closed and we add it to our growing collection of poems to wash your hands to - or just to listen to for pleasure.

Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū will be closed until further notice to help slow the spread of COVID-19. 

The work of an unstoppable traveller is taking Christchurch by storm in an exhibition following the adventurous life of Dunedin-born artist Frances Hodgkins.