7/12/2018

For Immediate Use

Aigantighe Art Gallery, the Friends of the Aigantighe Art Gallery and WuHoo Timaru are launching a new project to get artworks out into the community and the environments that inspire it.

The partners will soon be installing a series of five signs along the Timaru coast, mainly at Caroline Bay and Patiti Point, which will feature artworks from the Aigantighe Art Gallery Permanent Collection relating to the location of the sign and its surroundings.

Aigantighe Exhibitions Curator, Hamish Pettengell, said that the pilot project is a great way to get the collection out into the community and beyond the four walls of the gallery.

“Much of the art of South Canterbury is influenced by the amazing environment that we live in, so this summer the Aigantighe and the Friends have decided to bring out art out into these environments.

“The signs will feature reproductions of historical artworks, with explanatory text and historical images from the South Canterbury Museum’s collection giving the artworks greater context.

“This is a pilot project, and if it’s well received this year it’s something we could look at expanding throughout the district.”

The WuHoo Timaru group, which has already created a selection of free family activities in Timaru is creating a ‘treasure hunt’ map showing the locations of the signs. They have previously created the sculpture trail and the botanic gardens treasure hunt.

The project has been made possible with the help of local businesses. Thompson Construction & Engineering and Geraldine Signs created the signs, Mitre 10 Mega donated materials, John Rushton Architects have organised the install of the signs, Gallagher Trade Building Ltd will install the signs and Vetta Online have provided NFC tags, which link to the Aigantighe Art Gallery website.

“As one of the New Zealand’s major public art galleries it’s important that we go beyond just displaying artworks in the Aigantighe, it’s about always finding new ways to get people to experience art and the colour and vibrancy it brings our District.”

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