Art at work

Kaitiakitanga
Created By Gavin Britt, July 2008

I don’t think e-readers are ever going to have the same aesthetic appeal as books. I like the look of books. More than that, I like the look of rooms full of books interspersed with some art .

There are times when I forget to really look at my surroundings, but I do have fond memories of the artworks in Christchurch libraries: the beautiful art deco mirror at New Brighton (by Maureen J. Stewart), the stunning circular carving that graced Bishopdale (pictured right) and the lovely print behind the membership desk at Redwood (Tangaroa: The Fishing Man by Michael Tuffery).

But it is the art at Central that I miss most of all. Which is why I am so taken aback that there aren’t any large glossy tomes on Art in Libraries. It is a book that is crying out to be written.

However you can make a start on exploring this topic with the beautiful Living with books. Move on to look at our library art collection and maybe take a trip down memory lane to visit our Tukutuku panels. You could even treat yourself  to a road trip that takes in cool little art galleries around New Zealand. Or you could just pop along to the staff art exhibition at New Brighton this month where you get to see library art by librarians.

How about  you, do you too still haunt the corridors of long-gone public spaces – glancing from side to side at the art work you maybe took for granted?

Dream weavers – Maori weaving and fibre arts

We’ve just updated our page on Maori weaving and fibre arts. It’s a great resource that links to books and library resources, and also has step-by-step information on:

• Making a putiputi (flower)
• Making a whetu (star)

There are interviews with weaver Paula Rigby on weaving and  cloak making:

The degree of skill that’s involved in making a korowai (cloak) for example is phenomenal, and it should be recognised as just as artistic as a van Gogh or Rembrandt.

If you are interested in weaving,  the exhibition Raraka Taiao: Naturally Ngai Tahu started yesterday (Wednesday 4 April) and goes until 15 April. Ngai Tahu weavers will showcase contemporary weaving, using only natural materials and dyes. Their work will be for sale, and the exhibition will feature weavers in action, so you will get to see their skills up close.