Campus art and architecture presentations

Published by the Communications and Development Department

 

15 July 2004

 

Telling her sister’s friend about the architecture of Canterbury University’s James Hight Library inspired Jessica Halliday, a PhD student in the Art History Department, to organise similar talks for the campus community.

And so “Off the Wall” - a series of lunchtime talks on various campus artworks and buildings that will take place each Thursday during term time - developed with the help of other postgraduate students in the School of Fine Arts.

“The basic idea is to encourage the wider University community to engage with its art and environment through short, accessible weekly presentations on a work in the University’s art collection or an aspect of campus architecture,” explains Jessica.

“The emphasis is on seeing the University as a living exhibition, each 15-minute presentation will be held on-site. Hopefully it will generate an interest in art that people might not otherwise be interested in, or exposed to.

“I am constantly inspired as I walk around the University and Christchurch - it should be seen as a living exhibition. The more you know about what’s around you the more you get out of life. My life is enriched by just walking down the street and by stopping, looking, and consciously encountering what’s around me. That’s what I want to impart to others.”

Postgraduate students in Fine Arts have chosen a particular item of interest in the University and will each give a presentation. The students involved have been encouraged by the support the initiative has received.

“It has been a great experience for us. It has totally been student-lead and driven, but there’ve been offers of help if we need it. We have organised it from arranging speakers to commissioning poster designs - it has been a lot more work than I initially imagined, but has been very rewarding.”

The programme includes:

15 July Ministry of Works’ Brutalism Outside the English Department
22 July Ralph Hotere, Window in Spain UCTL, Law Building Level 4
29 July James White, Bust of Helen Connon Macmillan Brown Reading Room
5 August Don Peebles, Untitled, Blue and Black Commerce Building, Main Entrance
12 Aug Cath Brown, Kakahu Registry, Level 6 Foyer
19 August Barry Cleavin, Allegation of Aggression Computer Science Building Level 2, near Room 223

 

Each session begins at 12.30pm.

 

 

For more information contact
The School of Fine Arts
University of Canterbury
Phone 364 2159