As part of the fun - where business meets art , Silk Italia will have Sathya from Tamil Henna in their front window creating The Mehndi Lady... you'll all heard of the tattooed lady? Well, Sathya will be doing it with henna!
Head on in for a closer look at the work and also at the latest in silk fashion, direct from Italy instore.
Annah Stretton will be hosting a delightful installation by Margaret Lewis for one night only!
A group of found sports raquets, brought out of retirement and repurposed to create a volley of conversation in the window.
The works will be for sale - enquire at the Kaleidoscope World show inside The Colombo for details.
The RAD Collective is a group of local young creatives with a shared desire to inspire, collaborate and create. With an array of designers, musicians, illustrators, journalists, visual artists, film makers and marketers on board, this Collective is bound to make waves!
The RAD hold a special interest in skate and street culture and supporting local talent. From creating prints, photographs, paintings and websites to apparel, jewelry and videos - there's always something brewing!
This collective runs 17 members deep and growing. They'll be in residence at iconic skate shop, Embassy, creating new work onsite as part of First Thursdays: WELCOME - make sure to stop by and find out what's on the go at the moment!
The Christmas season has come around again, which means it’s time for Form Gallery’s
annual group exhibition, where they will be showcasing a selection of glass and ceramic
artworks by: Owen Bartlett, Katie Gold, Graeme Hitchcock and Tatyanna Meharry.
Wishlist VII will commence at Form Gallery at 5:30pm on Wednesday the 6th of December and will run for approximately three weeks - concluding on the 24th of December.
The gallery will be open late as part of First Thursdays festivities - do drop in!
About the work
The role of quilts is often to celebrate memories, stories, lineage and ideas. They often operate as an artistic map of effort and identity, made into something both practical, comforting and sentimental. For First Thursdays: Welcome, we wanted to showcase these beautiful creations and transport them from private to public space.
Local quilting legend, Deb Roberston, will have several works showcased in alternative spaces within Sydenham next week. Not Just Cushions' window will play host to an explosion of colour and shape and Spotlight will showcase an example of dedicated making from the hands of this artist.
Visit Deb's work in the window of Not Just Cusions - 393 Colombo St and inside the sewing department at Spotlight inside The Colombo - 363 Colombo St.
About the Artist
Deb Robertson has been making quilts for over twenty years now. She loves the process of making quilts from design to completion. As well as sewing, Deb writes regularly on her blog deb-robertson.blogspot.co.nz and posts photos on her Instagram debrobertson_sews. With a full time job, four kids, a couple of cats, a dog and a few chickens, there’s plenty going on at Deb’s house.
Crossing the Bridge is a socially engaged project that operates at the intersection between anthropology, photography and film. Crossing the Bridge collects experiences from migrant communities living in New Zealand, opening up discussion about belonging, identity and community.
As part of First Thursdays, the two powerhouse women behind the project will be screening the Crossing the Bridge documentary, as well having booklets with biographies of migrants to New Zealand on display. Join them to learn about what brings people to our country and hear their stories.
Along with the video and texts, Crossing the Bridge will be hosting an interactive portrait space. They will be collecting stories of experiences where people have felt welcomed - whether that be welcomed into a country, neighbourhood or social space. It will be interactive, engaging and build up a mosaic of stories of Welcome - printing the studio shot image then and there and building up a portrait of the audience.
Make a beeline for 464 Colombo St to share a story and learn more about the multitude of wonderful migrants that make up our changing and growing country!
This event is generously hosted by Doc Ross at Gallery 464, with thanks to Canon.
Helene Olivia Smith will be showcasing her stunning ceramic installation at The Colombo for one night only!
Part sculptural installation, part archaeological remnants, part prediction or fantasy - Leave No Stone Unturned is an exploration into the Anthropocene Epoch and our possible geological future.
The installation can be found alongside the Kaleidoscope World exhibition inside The Colombo.
The Quaint and the Curious will be hosting an installation by local artist, Adele Courtman. The untitled work plays on transforming fragmented interiors into abstract facets and explores notions of change and femininity.
Tying in with the site - a place that holds memories embedded in the objects found, collected and displayed - the work speaks about memory, time and transformation. The surface and glaze, with its fleshy hues, draw the viewer in but also give a sense of repulsion. The slick surfaces contrast with the rough base of recycled clay that they're created from. The forms are organic and abstract but toy with memory and meaning.
A wedding dress, cut up and turned into a hose, is a stunning element and a beautiful contrast to the hard edged ceramics. The old satin sheen ties in well with the glaze - elements of traditional but reconstructed, re-shaped and transformed femininity.
The work will be installed from Saturday 2 December, up the staircase of this treasure trove of hand-picked and nevermore items on Buchan St. The Quaint and the Curious will be open late as part of First Thursdays. Make sure to pay them a visit!
You will find a playful and poignant installation of new works by artist Alix Ashworth inside Westende Jewellers on Colombo St.
Alongside the beautiful vintage jewelry stocked by Westende Jewellers, Charm Me Baby brings together a selection of over-sized charms that reference gender roles, motherhood and identity. Ashworth uses her practice to explore areas of motherhood, gender roles and how femininity and masculinity fit in our everyday lives.
Christchurch-based artist, Mandy Cherry Joass will be running an interactive painterly installation at The Colombo on the night. Be sure to stop by and take part!
Joass graduated from the University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts in 2015 with of a Bachelor of Fine Arts, majoring in sculpture. While studying she won a number of prizes and scholarships. In her current practice she is using raranga (weaving) as a metaphor to explore themes relating to postcolonial identity.
Joass is expanding on traditional Maori imagery, techniques and materials to acknowledge the dichotomous accounts of these early interactions, which when woven together form the fabric of a bicultural society. She is a descendant of the first European settlers to arrive in New Zealand and also of Ngapuhi Whakapapa, and she expresses her biculturalism through her work.
About the Work:
Poi Play Spin Paint Station invites people of all ages to take a moment and playfully create something beautiful.
Alongside an installation inside The Colombo, join the artist and create a series of abstract 'spin' paintings that reflect the beautiful spinning motion created by poi featured in her installation.
Take one home for a donation and leave one behind to add to the installation.
Poi for performance and play, originated from harakiki ki (small flax basket) made to carry Moa eggs. The ki was also used as a training device to enhance agility and coordination for battle.
Joass’s aim is to encourage a fun interaction with Maori culture and to momentarily draw the viewer away from the modern digital devices which dominate our lives.
We are very much looking forward to bringing Auckland-based artist, Margaret Lewis down to Christchurch to take part in First Thursdays: Welcome.
Margaret Lewis is a contemporary textile artist using traditional crafting techniques (knitting, crochet, embroidery, macrame) and re- contextualising them by her use of unexpected materials. Self taught her practice could be described as ‘making a silk-purse out of a sow’s ear’, in that her works use easily found (and often discarded) items as her canvas. Originally designing hand crafted fashion her practice changed focus after many of her works (and materials) were destroyed in a fire in 2013. Since then her works have been exhibited at the Waikato Museum, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Splore and ACL Festivals, as well as NZ Sculpture OnShore. She has spoken at UK Conference ‘Making Futures’, CTANZ Fibre Connecting People Symposium and also the CCD Summit Aotearoa.
Lewis sees her role as an artist and producer is to bridge aesthetics, explore the application of innovative materials, champion excellence in making and to engage different communities in the creation of unique art-works. As part of First Thursdays: Welcome, a chain link fence will become a canvas for a temporary artwork, which the public can take part in creating.
I want this to (m)end
Once the headlines have faded there comes the grim reality of picking up the pieces. Post the 2011 earthquake in Christchurch and the repair work seems endless. Disruption (not in the business innovation sense), homelessness and displacement are ever-present if not always acknowledged, an unpleasant current.
Combine this with a recent collaboration with people who have experienced homelessness (‘stuck in the maze // from housed to homeless’) and those issues of disruption and displacement seemed fitting to explore for Sydenham. Research showed that in the days of Sydenham Borough Council[1] it followed the values of its motto ‘deeds not words’. This historic focus on action was echoed in one particular piece of writing that people contributed to ‘stuck in the maze’ – ‘I want this to (m)end’, something I’m sure will resonate with all Christchurch residents.
Over three days (5 – 7 December) we will work the text ‘I want this to (m)end’ on the chain link fence at 456 Colombo St. Come and watch the progress or lend a helping hand.
If you are interested in taking part in installing this work, get in touch via our 'volunteer' page!
[1] In 1876, Sydenham became a Borough with its own governance and revenue gathering. It followed its own motto “Deeds not Words” and was soon renown for its quality roads, sewers/drainage and street lighting. By 1876 a Post Office had been established in the area and by 1878 the tramlines had been constructed as far as Brougham Street. Sydenham was Christchurch’s first Borough outside the inner city and had a population of 6,500 by 1876 – half the size of Christchurch City, and equal to all the other suburbs combined. It was already developing its own distinctive character: radical, dissenting and working class, a heartland of left-wing politics in New Zealand. The Borough of Sydenham was amalgamated with the city in 1903.
Artist, Ron Te Kawa has been working with fabric for decades. First Thursdays Chch will be hosting some of his Whakapapa quilts at the Warp & Weft exhibition as well as a small series of wall hangings in the window of Grymmstone and Treacle Emporium.
Te Kawa is an artist and story teller; his work is about uplifting the viewer through his own experiences. Healing through nature, whakapapa and mana Maori. A self-employed fashion designer for 20 years, after the 2010, he outgrew the creative limitations of making clothes and started making and teaching whakapapa quilts full time.
Ōtautahi Kōrerotia kaiwhakahaere have made new work for a collaborative exhibition as part of First Thursdays: Dreamscapes.
Taking instructions from the metaphysical, embodied physically, Caitlin Clarke and Māia Abraham follow myth, spirit and dreams to produce sculptural installations of video and drawing work. Māia's work choreographs the myth of a South Island taniwha, and marks that choreography in charcoal. Caitlin's work stems from a dream and is realised through performative action and displayed on film in the space. With the curatorial collaboration of Hamish Petersen, the project intends to bring visitors into the histories, mythologies, dreamworlds and imaginations of the artists and those who came before us, whose stories we share.
This project is generously hosted and supported by Cycle Trading Company, 23 Elgin St.
Exhibition opens from 3pm.
Two and three dimensions collide in an explosion of exuberant colour and pattern in this installation; Humdrop is a psychedelic feast for the eyes!
Award winning artist, Janna van Hasselt's work is characterised by juxtaposing forms and rhythms. Bright colours and bold patterns vie for attention in seemingly chaotic compositions both in two and three dimensional planes. The idea of beauty and awkwardness both being present in a piece provides both intrigue and delight to the artist as well as her audience.
Van Hasselt will engulf the Annah Stretton window with colour and pattern. By combining planar pattern and the dimensional space, she works somewhere in between painting and sculpture. This work will form a progression from Buzz Carpet; her first public art project with SCAPE as part of the ReACTIVATE series.
Installation view of Buzz Carpet at the ReStart Mall
Image credit: Clara Wells Design: Alex Wootton
An exhibition presented by artist run gallery Where?, a transitional space focussed on exhibiting a diverse range of artists in terms of identity, practice, and career stage.
Artists were invited to make works responding to ideas and concepts such as the vaporwave aesthetic, the vapourware phenomenon, technology, colour, materiality and temporality using a range of materials and mediums.
This is a one night only pop up exhibition, generously hosted by Pablo 383 as part of First Thursdays: Dreamscapes
Poster image thanks to Clara Wells
You're probably already familiar with the work of prolific Christchurch artist, Mark Catley. His giant paste-ups featuring surreal over-sized childhood toys and iconic pop-culture images have been a welcome addition to the street-scape of post-quake Christchurch. Several have featured as part of the First Thursdays Chch programme in the past!
His bold, playful paste ups are something that just anyone can relate to, with the aim of evoking nostalgia, joy and surprise. For Dreamscapes, Catley is treating us to a special view of the originals via a playful installation that explores ideas on consumerism, meaning, memory and multiples.
This more intimate approach introduces the audiences to a single action figure that has been collected by the artist 101 times. This action figure is a cherished, childhood object from the artist. It’s importance grew immensely once his father passed away 6 years ago and he began to compulsively collect the figure over and over again. Installed inside a jewellery cabinet at Westende Jewellers, the preciousness of this object is reflected and able to be reflected upon.
On view for one night only.
Many thanks to Westende Jewellers for hosting this work.
Poster by Elissa Shaw
Join us for an exhibition opening and pop up bar with the finest craft beers flowing!
Artists were invited to create new works exploring ideas of perception, viewpoints, perspective, confusion and double meaning using a range of materials and mediums.
The Beer Library will also be running a pop-up bar for one night only as part of First Thursdays: Dreamscapes
Exhibition runs until 13 August.
Featuring work by:
Kara Burrows
Aaron Frater
Riahnnon James
Hamish Allan
Jane Barry
Jason Ware
Hannah Heslop
Centuri Chan
Tracy Osborne
Tahlia King
Special thanks to Elissa Shaw from Ara Institute of Canterbury for the fantastic poster.
First Thursdays Chch is made possible by the generous support of many Sydenham businesses, The Christchurch City Council, Powell Fenwick, Ara Institute of Canterbury, The Colombo and BNS Design and Print.
Poster by Nicholas Jamondé Lew
Join us for the opening of an exhibition of collaboration and collusion.
Thirty two artists were paired together to create a new work by match-maker-come-curator Audrey Baldwin. The eligible dates supplied an artist bio that included three key words to describe themselves, three to describe their practice and, of course, their star sign.
This exhibition hosts a wide range of artists from multiple disciplines and career stages. Featuring work by artists from as far away as Canada, India and the UK. What will come of these pairings? Will art-romance blossom? Will there be tears? How will the long-distance pairings cope?
Opening event 5.30pm Thursday 3 August, exhibition runs until Thursday 10 August
Generously hosted by Dilana Rug Gallery – on the corner of Buchan and Byron St.
Featuring work by:
Rob Kay aka Dainty Bert and Alex Lovell-Smith
Janna Aileen van Hasselt and Massey Williams
Jordana Bragg and Monique Romeiko
Clara Wells and Genevieve Fowler
Hana Pera Aoake and Kalee Jackson
McChesney-Kelly Adams and Julie Sheppard
Kim Lowe and Georgia Willetts
Aurelia Rohrbacker and Melissa Dempsey
Patricia Parkin and Sarah Lund
Gaby Montejo and Kaur Chimuk
Jason Ware and Nicolas Woollaston
Eve Barlow and Julia Holden
Margaret Dawson and Rubee Prattley-Jones
Holly Aitchison and Lisa Combfish McComish
Gareth Brighton and Callum Devlin
Kara Burrows and Clint Park
Fiona van Oyen and Matthew Joils
Photo credit: Janneth Gil
The Drawing Machine invites you to take a seat. Bring a friend if you like. Be still and reflect while the machine works its magic.
We’re excited to have this whimsical, interactive installation making a special appearance at First Thursdays! Having recently appeared at the opening of Making Space at CoCA and pumping out portrait after portrait at The Longest Night, The Drawing Machine - created by Gemma Stratton and Mirabel Oliver - is making its way to The Colombo to document the cuties that take a seat in its magical interior.
Take a seat between 5.30 and 7.30pm.
Photo Credit: Janneth Gil
Chris Jones
As a special event for First Thursdays: DREAMSCAPES, Form gallery will be showcasing an exhibition of affordable fineries under $150. Work by both local and national artists will include jewellery, glass and ceramic on display in the exhibition area of the gallery.
Of course, other stock will be available for viewing and purchase as well.
Featuring beautiful works by: Sophie Divett, Renee Boyd, Koji Miyazaki and Chris Jones
Form Gallery: 468 Colombo St
Renee Boyd
Sophie Divett
