Public art project for young artists
Aspiring young artists are encouraged to let their imaginations run wild designing Christchurch’s latest art installation.
Public art organisation SCAPE has launched its fifth Re: ACTIVATE series, with school-aged designers pushed to get creative while coming up with an unexpected art idea to take centre stage in Hack Circle, on the corner of Cashel and High streets.
SCAPE executive director Deborah McCormick said fostering young artists was crucial in developing the cityscape. The idea was to create hidden stories and meanings within their artworks for the viewer to interpret, under the common thread of this year’s theme – Secrets and Lies.
If selected, young artists work with an engineer and construction crew to finesse the details of their design and select the colours, materials and size of the finished piece.
‘‘[The competition] is something for creatively minded children where they can be celebrated for their skills. We have little hard hats and little hi-vis vests so they can be on site and really feel part of the process.’’
Students at schools that have adopted the competition as part of the curriculum could enter their school work, or others aged 18 years and under could create a design at home, McCormick said. Entries close on July 10.
Last year’s theme encouraged artists to create a piece inspired by the iconic game Rock, Paper, Scissors.
Five winning designs were chosen, including Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery School’s Tessa Marshall’s giant candy stick sculpture, integrating Ma¯ ori concepts with the traditional English ‘rock’ confectionery.
Strength in Sisterhood by Rosetta Brown, Hazel White and Georgina Jolly, from Rangi Ruru Girls’ School, was also among the top designs.
SCAPE Public Art is a charitable trust which produces public art in central Christchurch, along with a festival in spring.
For those more interested in art made with a microphone, The Piano is offering musicians free use of its performance spaces for June and July. Director Bronwyn Bijl said more than 60 artists expressed interest in securing a spot.
Classical jazz quartet performer Cathy Irons said the offer had opened doors.
Blackboard Theatre Collective manager Jeremy Hinman said if performers wanted to be on stage this year, they would ‘‘most likely have to create the work’’.
‘‘The Piano provides us with a platform to showcase our work that we otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford.’’