Welcome to Lara Mumby-Croft, new volunteer staff member researching contemporary art and artists in Oceania, and discovering the coolness of Tumblr. Thanks heaps Lara!
Lara is beautifully standing in front of her artwork Rinse at her first solo exhibition Trivial and Abject at the Tin Palace in Lyttleton in 2014. Read more here: http://www.tinpalace.co.nz/ageing-and-beauty/
As mentioned in my previous post I am currently volunteering for Centre of Contemporary art, aka CoCa. Today I had the opportunity to visit the CoCa site, where great work is being carried out to refurbish the building. I felt a strange mix of emotions being inside CoCa again, it felt like such a long time ago since I was last there. Being inside brought back many memories and I felt inspired to see the work underway to create, what I believe is going to be a great gallery space that people are going to enjoy. I cannot wait to see the new CoCa and feel very happy to be a very small part of this stage of preparation. Here are some photographs I took inside today (please forgive the poor quality, they were taken on my phone). I hope they will give you a feel for the space inside. Despite the grey weather today and the scaffolding blocking much of the light, I could really get a great sense of the natural light that will flow through the gallery when it is finished. CoCa is set to re-open later this year! Stay posted for more updates.
Exclusive volunteer staff gallery tour (at Centre of Contemporary Art, 66 Gloucester St, Christchurch)
The Centre of Contemporary Art (CoCA) in Christchurch is re-opening late Spring 2015 and we’re working on the first season’s programme!
We’re seeking an enthusiastic and committed person to assist the Director & Principal Curator to curate and produce CoCA’s opening exhibition.
Please share this fantastic opportunity far and wide!
Applications must be in by 5pm on Thursday 30 July 2015.
The concept of curating and directing CoCA has now become a reality. I have said my farewell to Plymouth in the UK and flown across the globe and landed in Christchurch. I am now well into my second week of work on New Zealand soil.
On route to Christchurch I was fortunate to experience the Venice Biennale. Located in a sensational, historic setting, this is the largest of the world’s biannual contemporary art events. Okwui Enwezor is the renowned curator of the main exhibition All the World’s Futures. On for another five months, the exhibition is essentially about the state of the world today and how artists are reacting to and making sense of global issues. The exhibition is spread across two sites: the Arsenale, a beautiful former rope and ship building yard; and the well-maintained Giardini (gardens), surrounded by 29 pavilions built from 1907 onwards by the various nations participating in this enduring Biennale. There is also a surprisingly extensive collateral programme of creative projects and exhibitions around the city.
Experiencing so much artwork in one place left me with many highlights and potential resonances for CoCA. The pavilions give you a sense of global contemporary art, some of the works clearly defining the state of artists’ respective countries.
Artist Simon Denny, who is representing New Zealand, was extremely well received. His project Secret Power was partly prompted by the impact of whistleblower Edward Snowden’s leaks of National Security Agency (NSA) PowerPoint slides which outlined top-secret US telecommunications surveillance programmes. These slides highlighted New Zealand’s role in US intelligence work, as a member of the US-led ‘Five Eyes’ alliance. Now out in the open, the slides have come to represent international surveillance work and its impact on individual privacy. Denny’s ‘Biennale Arte 2015’ project has gained lots of international press and put New Zealand in the spotlight in the ‘art world’.
For me, Chinese artist Xu Bing’s Phoenix (above) most powerfully aligned with the curator’s concept for the Venice Biennale. Throughout China’s history, every dynasty has had its form of phoenixes. Representing luck, unity, power and prosperity, these mythological birds have, for the most part, been benevolent, gentle creatures. The pair in this exhibition, made out of materials used for China’s commercial development, reflects the grimmer and grittier face of China today. Essentially, the phoenix expresses unrealised hopes and dreams.
An opportunity that I hope to bring to CoCA from Venice is a fantastic work by British/Ghanaian artist John Akomfrah. I have worked with Akomfrah and the production team Smoking Dogs over the last few years, resulting in commissioned work. Akomfrah is a polemic artist, and working with him has definitely impacted on my thinking as a curator.
Akomfrah’s presentation Vertigo Sea is on display in the Biennale’s Central Pavilion. It is a new three-screen/channel film installation about whaling, the environment and our relationship with the sea. For the last 30 years, spanning cinema, television and gallery-based installations, Akomfrah’s work has engaged with questions of memory and identity, creating moving-image works, which give a voice to African migration in Europe. He fills gaps in history using archival material to create documentary-style ‘film essays’ and speculative fictional stories about our past. He is renowned for pushing the boundaries of documentary film.
During my quick four days in Venice, I enjoyed making new connections and developing existing relationships, both with the art and with the people. I am looking forward to applying this learning to CoCA’s projects here in Christchurch.
I am a firm believer that to make knowledge and skills relevant to a location you have to first experience the place. I’m really looking forward to experiencing and learning about the city so I can get a sense of how CoCA can once again become a key focal point and resource for the public and local art communities. I am extremely excited to be here!
Kia ora koutou.
Paula Orrell
Director & Principal Curator, CoCA
Image: Xu Bing’s Phoenix (2015) hanging between two boathouses at the Arsenale.
Could you be CoCA’s innovative Director & Principal Curator? Please let your contacts know about this exciting opportunity to lead CoCA in its new vision. We’re accepting applications until 16 January 2015.
We’re recruiting for a people-centred and enthusiastic person to manage the gallery in weekends and help with some evening public events sometimes. Join us!
Applications close 5pm, Monday 2 November.
REALLY recommend seeing Emma Fitts’ exhibition ‘Fit-out for Olivia Spencer Bower’ at Ilam Campus Gallery, University of Canterbury. Closes 19 March
Gallery repairs are coming along nicely!
This weeks blog is inspired by London based artist Dryden Goodwin. Dryden is a British artist whose works often encompass intricate drawings in combination with photography and live action video. He creates films, gallery installations, projects in public space, etchings, works on-line and soundtracks. His works practise reflects of the ethical dimensions of looking at the world and beyond. Dryden’s work Breathe is currently being showcased in our exhibition Precarious Nature here at Toi Moroki Centre of Contemporary Art .
Dryden Goodwin’s Breathe is an animation of over 1,300 pencil drawings of his five year old son, inhaling and exhaling. The boy progresses through fluctuating breathing patterns, at some moments regular, and at others more laboured as he stares out from the frame. Through emphasising the physicality of the act of breathing it the work draws attention to the vulnerability of children, whose developing respiratory systems are is most at risk from pollution, and who will live with the long term physical and environmental effects of our current lifestyles.
This work is taking a critical stance on air pollution and air quality, particularly in London, but it also has significance for us here in Ōtautahi. London, a much larger and condensed city, is the one of the most polluted cities in Europe, with it costing the population approximately £2 billion annually. The air pollution in London is so uncontrollable that it has been shown to cause more premature deaths than both smoking and traffic incidents combined.
The guideline for pm10 in Ōtautahi had been exceeded an average of thirty times a last year, whilst the carbon monoxide guideline is often exceeded ten times a year. Similarly to Christchurch, London has consistently exceeded its yearly limits of PM10 emissions and nitrogen dioxide. An article released 6 days into 2017 reported that London has already breached its annual air pollution limit for the year, which highlights how toxic the air pollution is in the highly condensed city.
Image Source: Putney High Street on 3 January 2017
Air pollution in Ōtautahi (Christchurch) is the worst in Aotearoa New Zealand, with majority of it coming from domestic use of wood and coal burning for heating. The impacts of air pollution are not only damaging on the environment, but also people’s well-being and health - in particular, children. Clean air is made up of approximately 78% Nitrogen, 20% Oxygen, .9% Argon and .03% carbon dioxide. When the air is polluted, the levels of toxins increase, which increase the likelihood of morbidity and mortality. Pm10, also known as particulate matter, is a particle that comes in a variety of sizes and has the ability to travel deep into your lung. People in areas less socioeconomically advantaged are more likely to live next to hazardous sites in comparison to those in areas that are socioeconomically advantaged - this is often referred to as environmental racism.
Environmental racism is a type of discrimination that is closely tied to residential segregation, where people who are of low-income or minority communities are more likely to live or be forced to live in areas that are in close proximity to hazardous sites and toxic waste due to race, class and gender. These areas have much higher levels of air pollution, with people, particularly children having ongoing health implications because of it. As mentioned, children and infants are much more vulnerable to the risks of morbidity due to air pollution. The effects that high levels of air pollution can have on children are often long lasting, and can decrease the quality and length of a persons life. The risks associated with air pollution include the increased likelihood of strokes, asthma, cancer, wheezing, bronchitis, reduced lung development, high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis and heart attacks.
Above is a map highlighting the geographic distribution of PM2.5 air pollution levels at a global scale. The full sized interactive map can be found here where you can zoom into countries or cities you are curious about. It also allows you to see where the dirtiest power plants are situated. Along with this, it gives you a more in depth explanation of what Particular Matter is (PM) and the harmful effects it can have on peoples health and wellbeing.
Some Ōtautahi Christchurch based not-for-profit organizations we are working with include 350.org and Generation Zero. 350 Christchurch are a local group of volunteers committed to taking action on climate change. Generation Zero is a nationwide movement of young New Zealanders working together to get our country on the path towards a zero carbon future.
350.org focuses on the wider social and economic changes we now urgently need to tackle climate disruption. They are a global grassroots climate movement that can hold our leaders accountable to the realities of science and the principles of justice. Their core goals include hitting the 90% renewable energy by 2025, cute green house emissions, improve insulation levels and many others. Generation Zero is a nationwide movement of young New Zealanders working together to get our country on the path towards a zero carbon future. They campaign for smarter transport and urban planning, and independence from fossil fuels. Both organizations have a central goal of New Zealand becoming less or completely independent from fossil fuels as it is a major factor in carbon emissions and our high levels of air pollution. You can support them by going to their website and signing petitions, donating or volunteering
hadassahgrace
Splashy title, I know. Let’s break it down a little.
Tuesday November 10, 2015 - John Key shouts across parliament that Andrew Little, leader of the opposition party, is supporting rapists, child molesters and murderers over the rights of other New Zealanders by questioning the government’s inaction over the Christmas Island human rights violations.
Keep this in mind, would you? We’re going to come back to it later.
November 2008 - National becomes the governing party of New Zealand, with John Key as its leader.
2009 - The Taskforce for Action on Sexual Violence (established under the Labour government in 2007) recommends a drastic increase to the funding of the specialist sexual violence sector. The National government responds by cutting funding to this sector.
National resolves to decrease spending by ACC by $2 billion. Much of this is achieved by cutting funding to emergency services supporting victims of rape, sexual assault and domestic violence. This includes counseling services for survivors.
‘Double Bunking’ is introduced in prisons, despite overwhelming evidence that this leads to an increase in rape and sexual assault between prisoners.
National cuts funding to HELP, and they are forced to lay off staff and drastically reduce their emergency support services to victims of rape and sexual abuse.
2011 - National cuts funding for the Women’s Refuge by $800,000. The Family Violence Fund is established, however it is only accessible for the establishment of new social programs, not for existing ones or day-to-day expenses.
Further ACC funding cuts result in reduced counseling available for survivors of rape and sexual abuse.
Rape Prevention Education Auckland, Counselling Services Centre in Counties-Manukau, and Auckland Sexual Abuse Help all announce they are unable to cope with the volume of requests since funding cuts in 2009.
The Human Rights Commission releases a report stating that NZ prison conditions violate human rights, and that crowding and ‘double bunking’ are leading to increased cases of rape and sexual assault between prisoners. No actions are taken to remedy this.
Minister for Social Development Paula Bennet announces she will be scheduling some meetings to deal with these issues, but no increases to funding are announced, and the issue seems to slide back under the rug.
John Key defends his decision to be interviewed by convicted domestic abuser Tony Veitch, saying that his “history” was not his concern. During the interview he made a “wishlist” of the female celebrities he found attractive.
2012 - Hawera Rape Crisis is forced to close due to lack of funding.
Auckland HELP is forced to run a public campaign in order to keep their services going.
Wellington Rape Crisis is forced to close their doors for one day a week in order to remain financially solvent.
Rape Crisis centers across the country announce they are desperately underfunded, running on shoestring budgets, and having to cut services in order to stay afloat.
More “restructuring” of ACC leads to a loss of over $6 million in funding to rape prevention services. The HELP Foundation loses a further $200,000 in funding.
Maori sexual assault services are reduced to just two providers nationwide.
Abuse and Rape Crisis Support is forced to reduce its counseling hours due to funding cuts. Manager Anne Kent says the group is now largely reliant on public donations.
2013 - The police diversion scheme is changed, so that donations are no longer accepted as a condition of diversion. This is done to avoid the inconvenience and costs of court appearances and paperwork. This results in a massive loss of donations to organizations such as Women’s Refuge and Rape Crisis. No changes in government funding are made to compensate for this.
Christchurch’s only Rape Crisis center is forced to close after being turned down for government funding. A mere $30,000 would have kept them going.
Despite public support, HELP is forced to close their Auckland 24-hour crisis phone line due to lack of funding. Before closing, they dealt with around 250 calls a week.
Palmerston North Women’s Refuge announces that their safe house is at capacity almost every night, with enough calls to run another safe house also at capacity. They announce the service is increasingly difficult to run due to lack of funding.
Sexual violence agencies across the country announce victims are being forced to wait up to three months to access services such as counseling, stating their funding is stretched to the breaking point.
John Key responds to the actions of the Roast Busters group (a group of young men who drugged and gang raped children as young as thirteen, and posted pictures of the acts online), saying they should, “Just grow up.”
2014 - Election Year!
National introduces a variety of measures to reduce domestic violence, but does so without consulting any of the organizations set up to help victims. Many of the measures are criticized as being ineffective, and largely a smoke screen to cover how appallingly underfunded this area is.
Women’s Refuge chief executive Heather Henare expresses concern that the measures only cater to the 18% of domestic violence cases which are reported, leaving more than 80% of the country’s victims without help.
Labour proposes a plan which focuses on prevention, community outreach, and justice reform, which includes an investment of an extra $60 million in funding to family and sexual violence services. They do this after heavily consulting with services such as Women’s Refuge. Key declines to comment on this, however makes fun of Labour leader David Cunliffe for starting his speech by saying he’s embarrassed to be a man, and makes a weird analogy about a rugby club.
The National budget includes an increase in funding to sexual violence services of $10.4 million over the next two years. Although this is much needed, it comes five years after the Taskforce for Action on Sexual Violence first recommended a funding increase. Five years of drastic funding cuts in which many providers were forced to lay off staff, reduce services or close down altogether.
This $10.4 million is less than the yearly budget for ministerial travel. It is one third of what National spent bailing out Rio Tinto. It’s almost a third of what we’re spending to talk about replacing our flag with another flag that most of the country hates.
The government shows support for accused rapist and Malaysian diplomat Muhammad Rizalman, allowing him to return to Malaysia without trial. Eventually, when media pressure becomes too great, Key finally expresses outrage over the situation, and requests he be returned to NZ, but only after long months of silence.
Key promotes a National MP (with name suppression, but we all know who it is) to the position of Chair of the Law and Order Committee at the same time he is under investigation for the sexual assault of minors.
The Manawatu Women’s Refuge is forced to close one of their safe houses, opened only a few months previous due to increased demand, because of lack of funding.
Wellington Rape Crisis manager Eleanor Butterworth announces that although 20% of staff hours are spent on funding applications, they are still running on a deficit of up to $100,000 a year.
Rape Crisis centers across the country once again announce they are on the verge of closing down due to increased demand and lack of funding.
John Key makes a joke about convicted murderer and pedophile Phillip John Smith’s escape from prison.
2015 - John Key is accused of bullying and harassment by a waitress, who claims he repeatedly touched her hair, pulling on her ponytail, despite her asking him several times to stop. Videos emerge of him touching the hair of young girls without their permission. Although not a criminal offense, most of the country agrees this is pretty creepy behaviour, and shows a lack of respect for others’ personal boundaries.
John Key shouts across parliament that Andrew Little, leader of the opposition party, is supporting rapists, child molesters and murderers over the rights of other New Zealanders by questioning the government’s inaction over the Christmas Island human rights violations. Speaker of the House and National party politician David Carter refuses to order an apology from Key, and about half of Labour’s MPs walk out. Key refuses to retract his statement, or apologise.
The following day around a dozen MPs, mostly women, mostly from Labour and Greens, staged a walk-out.
One by one, each of them stand and try to tell their stories about their experiences with sexual assault, and to explain why they were hurt and offended by John Key’s comments. One by one they are silenced, and thrown out.
I’m just gonna say that again, a little louder, for all you people in the back.
One by one, each of them stand and try to tell their stories about their experiences with sexual assault, and to explain why they were hurt and offended by John Key’s comments. One by one they are silenced, and thrown out.
David Carter and John Key actively silenced the voices of survivors of rape and sexual assault. David Carter interrupted, cut off their microphones, and eventually threw them out of the House.
Key still refuses to apologize, and stands by his statements.
A man who won’t do anything about human rights abuses because he claims to be so concerned for the victims of rape and sexual assault is unwilling to listen to the very people he’s apparently protecting.
John Key and his buddies don’t care about survivors. They want us to shut up. When we won’t shut up, they want to treat us as hysterical and unreasonable. They want to use our trauma as a tool to avoid answering to valid criticisms from the opposition, but they’ve done less than nothing to help any of us when we needed it. Since coming into power, they have continually cut funding to the services we need, and ignored our cries for help. They throw us the occasional, election-year bone, and expect us to be so grateful that we won’t speak up when they try to use us as nothing more than fodder for PR stunts.
NZ. Get mad. Write letters (
speakers.office@parliament.govt.nz,
david.carter@parliament.govt.nz) . Support the MPs who walked out. Sign this petition calling on Key to apologize, and fully fund the sexual violence sector: http://www.actionstation.org.nz/saysorryjohn Donate to your local Women’s Refuge and Rape Crisis if you can afford it.
For fuck’s sake vote this motherfucker out in 2017.
