Make an impression on Queenstown

Thursday, 14 June 2018, 10:59 am
Press Release: Destination Queenstown

Make an impression on Queenstown at the 2018 Real Journeys Queenstown Winter Festival

Queenstown, New Zealand (14 June, 2018) – Destination Queenstown is inviting both the local community and Queenstown’s visitors to ‘make their mark’ on two iconic buildings during next week’s Real Journeys Queenstown Winter Festival.

Eichardt’s Private Hotel and the Eichardt’s building on Marine Parade, in prime position on Queenstown Bay, will be the canvas for two interactive projections providing a unique opportunity for Festival visitors to interact with the works. The initiative is an exciting collaboration between Queenstown audio-visual whiz Tom Lynch, Real Journeys Queenstown Winter Festival and DQ.

Destination Queenstown brand and marketing manager Diana Mendes says the Winter Festival is a time when locals and visitors can come together to celebrate Queenstown, making it the perfect opportunity to showcase the diversity and creativity that makes our place so vibrant and unique.

“The project is about encouraging people to come and have their moment up in lights alongside internationally renowned artists—in two really fun and interactive ways,” she says. “We gave Tom a huge challenge to come up with an idea that would represent our diverse local culture and engage the community and visitors. We were blown away with the concepts he developed and are hugely excited to see them come to life during the Festival.”

‘The Canvas’

The first, entitled ‘The Canvas’, will project artworks created by the community onto the Eichardt’s Private Hotel’s façade, transforming it into a giant canvas to express their creativity.

Pamphlets with the building’s outline are being distributed to local schools and the wider community so they can create their artworks ahead of next week’s event. The creations should be brought to the projection station on Marine Parade during Winter Festival so they can be projected live on Eichardt’s Private Hotel for the world to see.

In an exciting show of Queenstown’s diversity, three artists with distinct styles will also project their works on ‘The Canvas’, offering up the chance for Festival-goers to see works created live.

The first night will feature renowned New Zealand landscape painter Tim Wilson, Australian street artist Steen Jones on Friday night, and on Saturday night local up and coming watercolour illustrator Karla Ruas will add her whimsical touch to the landmark.

“We deliberately chose these three completely different artists—one iconic New Zealand artist who happens to be based in Queenstown, an Australian artist who represents a modern art genre, and one up-and-coming Queenstown-based illustrator—to showcase the diversity of Queenstown and how our local culture is uniquely shaped and enriched by people from all over the world,” says Mendes.

‘The Selfie’

The second projection entitled ‘The Selfie’ will allow Festival goers to claim their 15-seconds of fame by having their faces projected like a kaleidoscope onto the geometric cladding of the new Eichardt’s building.

“Everybody craves their 15 seconds of fame, so we found a fun way for people to put their stamp on a Queenstown icon with the ultimate travel selfie. Step in front of the camera and have your face transformed on to this amazing kaleidoscope for everyone to see,” says Mendes.

Real Journeys Queenstown Winter Festival director Rae Baker says the project embodies Festival perfectly.

“The inclusion of this project within Festival, which encompasses and reflects our diverse community, is fantastic. Utilising Eichardt’s is not only symbolic of our history but also leads people along the Bay from our Festival Hub in Earnslaw Park to the new location of our Bath House Stage.”

How to get involved

Projection stations will be set up on Marine Parade in front of each of the buildings from 6-9pm fromThursday 21 to Saturday 23 June.

Visit ‘The Selfie’ each evening in front of Eichardt’s during Festival to have your billboard moment.

To take part in ‘The Canvas’ simply collect your Eichardt’s template from the below distribution points around Queenstown. Copies have also been distributed to schools in the region for young artists to work on.

Complete your work and bring it along to the Projection Station each evening from 6-9pm.

Participants are encouraged to share photos of their projections utilising the hashtags #QueenstownLive and #WinterStartsHere

Distribution points:

The Canvas’ templated can be picked up from the Destination Queenstown office on 50 Stanley Street or the Winter Festival information Hubs during the Festival.

ENDS

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