Doc Ross Photographic Exhibition
We are delighted to announce that we have added an additional visual arts element to the already packed 2013 festival
programme. The exhibition by Christchurch photographer Doc Ross was inspired by the February 2011 Canterbury
earthquakes. It features portraits of artists, writers and other members of the local arts community who, like all
residents of the city, were profoundly affected by the events of 22nd February 2011.
Called simply '37' the inspiration for the portraits came from the duration in seconds of the quake that shook
Christchurch to its core and the effects of which still resonate both physically in terms of the city's appearance and
emotionally amongst the people who were affected.
Each of the 37 photographs were exposed for 37 seconds and are accompanied by 37 words written by each individual
subject to describe their own personal experiences.
Speaking about his latest work, Doc Ross said, "Each person was asked to sit totally still in a chair and support their
head while a 37 second exposure multiple image portrait was made of them. Some people moved a lot, while others were
frozen to the spot, which reflects the way people reacted differently to the violent shaking.
“The results are not necessarily how the sitter, or their friends even, see them, instead they are records of how we
looked and felt in the aftermath of the earthquakes. It is my hope that these unmasked, intense and revealing portraits,
along with those condensed experiences of the moment our city changed forever, will remind us how effecting an event
like this is.”
The exhibition will take place in the Armstrong Room of the Lake Wanaka Centre for the duration of the festival, 16-21
April. Entry is by gold coin donation. It was previously on display at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pukenga
Whakaata in Wellington.
Dirk McBeath
Festival Pick of the Week
This week Trust Chair Hetty Van Hale makes her pick ‘I’m really looking forward to seeing what Sara Brodie creates with
the drama students and our cast of locals for the production ‘Tracing Hamlet’. Anyone who saw Riverside Drive last festival knows that she is a director at the top of her game and really brought
out some amazing performances from the team of local actors. This time round she is using Shakespearean text – but with
a twist. It sounds like great fun with the audience being split into two and walking round Puzzling World to try and
piece together what has happened to Hamlet – from what I’ve heard we only get fleeting glimpses of him, even a skype
call! So I really am quite intrigued to see what it’s all about. It’ll be great fun, and there’s some of those really
talented high school musicians in it too. Sara came down this weekend and they have started rehearsals so watch this
space ‘
Tracing Hamlet is at Puzzling World from Tuesday 16 to Saturday 20 April. Tickets $25 adults and $10 students
Book now
Tickets available now - www.festivalofcolour.co.nz (no booking fee) or phone 03 443 4162.
In person at the Lake Wanaka Centre box office Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm, Queenstown i-SITE and Cromwell i-SITE.
ENDS