CoCA - Centre of Contemporary Art

‘CoCA – Centre of Contemporary Art. Re-opening in Spring 2015’…That got my attention…‘Calling for volunteers’...Interesting, tell me more. ‘Sharing stimulating art experiences that engage people in conversations about contemporary life and culture’. OK. You’ve got me. I’m in!

The notion of ‘public art gallery’ is almost foreign in Christchurch after the quakes that rocked our institutions to their very foundations. Thankfully, over the last four years, the damage has stimulated creative innovation.

Exciting work has been done outside ‘the gallery’, in makeshift venues and al fresco settings throughout the city. Artists have expanded their DIY skills into event organising – grouping and promoting themselves as artists and art organisations.

Christchurch is now ready for a gallery that is devoted to its city, our diverse communities and contemporary artists here and abroad. It is exciting that CoCA will be re-born as a place to share ideas and engage people in contemporary art and creative projects.

My experience of CoCA is as an artist, exhibiting in the 2003 CoCA Contemporary Art Awards. I was in my third year of my Fine Arts degree at the University of Canterbury. And I was green. I had no idea what to expect yet I was impressed with how genuine and knowledgeable the gallery staff were and how popular this group show was. I fell in love with the space. I loved the echo of footsteps and chatter within the expansive ceilings; the way the gaudy pale lino squeaked underfoot; and the smell of freshly white painted walls, offset by the musty tinge of a 1960s building. It was the perfect introduction to showing artwork in a gallery setting. The experience helped me begin my fledgling career as an artist and excite me about future exhibitions.

I have such fond memories of CoCA – the architecture, the artists, the people behind the scenes – and of course at the heart of the gallery: the art. So to hear that the Centre of Contemporary Art is re-opening again this coming Spring really made me smile.

Welcome back CoCA. I’ve missed you.

Alanah Tocker
Artist and volunteer staff member of CoCA