Rivertalk exhibition/coming up

Media release – January 26, 2009

Christchurch artists to stage art protest campaign to save Canterbury’s Waianiwaniwa Valley and Rakaia and Waimakariri Rivers

Two Christchurch artists deeply concerned about the future of Canterbury’s water will launch their Canterbury River-talk project in March, they said today.

Artist friends Sally Hope and Jane Zusters want to draw attention to the Central Plains water and land grab scheme.

Last year the pair co-foundered a network of New Zealand artists named Artists to Save Our Water which instigates art projects about local and regional water issues.

A group of artists will camp at Kowai Bush at the site where the braided Waimakariri River will turn into a concrete canal if the Central Plains water scheme goes ahead.

An exquisite valley of lush rolling hills and mature trees planted by generations of Deans will be submerged by a 55 metre dam if the scheme is approved.

The artists involved are Mark Adams, Nigel Brown, Linda James, Sam Mahon, Albi McCathy, Ramonda Te Maiharoa, Tiffany Thornley, Becky Turrell and also Hope and Zusters.

``We are camping from March 20 to 23 where the Waimakariri River leaves the Gorge and the braided section of the river begins,’’ Zusters and Hope said.

``This is the location of the Upper Intake and canal for the proposed Central Plains scheme. We will be organising a tour of the surrounding area that would be affected if this scheme goes ahead.

``Artists will be able to see, feel, touch, collect, sketch, photograph, film, write, process and draw their experiences to use as the basis for a water art exhibition we are planning for later in the year. There will be no decision on Central Plains Water before May and so this is perfect timing for publicity purposes to protect and celebrate the river through their artwork,’’ they said.

Ends

Media advisory: for further information, comment, photos or interviews please contact Sally Hope on 03 355 2076 or Jane Zusters on 03 389 3509 or Kip Brook at Word of Mouth Media NZ on 0275 033 855

Rivertalk Exhibition: Coca Gallery Christchurch

24 november to 12 december 2009


Rivertalk is part two of a project by a group of artists to celebrate through their art making the Waimakariri River in the vicinity of the Malvern Hills. This is the site for the proposed Coalgate Dam if the Central Plains Water scheme is approved. An exquisite landscape of lush rolling hills and mature trees planted by generations of Deans will be submerged by a 55 metre dam while the Waimakariri becomes a concrete canal instead of a braided river. One of the central issues of our time is that ecological uneasy edge where natural worlds are threatened when human beings channel the whole eco system into themselves.

From Friday 20th March to Monday 23rd March 2009 the artists will camp at Kowai bush. This is where the Waimakariri River leaves the Gorge and the braided section of the river begins. This is the location of the Upper Intake and canal for the proposed Central Plains Water Scheme. The artists will travel on a voyage of inspiration/visual research by jet boat along the banks of the Waimakariri capturing the ever changing mood of the water and the plains surrounding it. They will also have bus a trip escorted by a spokesperson from the Malvern Hills protection society and have the opportunity to see some of the magnificent homesteads and historic sites that are threatened. One of these sites is one of the most significant areas of mudfish in Canterbury. The artists will see, feel, touch, collect, sketch, photograph, film, write, process and draw their experiences to use as the basis for future art making for an exhibition that Sally Hope and Jane Zusters are in the process of organising.

The following artists are participating in Rivertalk; Mark Adams, Nigel Brown, Sally Hope, Linda James, Sam Mahon, Albi McCathy, Ramonda Te Maiharoa, Tiffany Thornley, Becky Turrell, Jane Zusters. These are nationally known New Zealand artists with proven track records and the results of their research will result in a significant body of work about this threatened, iconic landscape. As artists we want to protect and celebrate this landscape through our art making.

For more information please contact;

Jane Zusters ph 3893509 Sally Hope 355 2076

This is a project by a network of New Zealand artists that we co founded called ”Artists for save our Water” which instigates art projects that draw attention to local water issues.