Wongi and the giant peach
Christchurch residents are often surprised and delighted when a new work of art appears on the walls of their city, which has become known as the ‘street art capital’ of New Zealand. Julia Strelou talks to one of the artists. Wongi Wilson is the man behind the giant peach which popped up […]
Using art to express yourself: Art Metro
Creating an accepting atmosphere where artists are free to explore, learn and express themselves is the aim of Art Metro’s owner Simon Walmisley, who pointed us in the direction of adult student Grant Philip to talk about his life and experiences. Grant began mouth painting in 2002 after being injured in a […]
Creating lasting memories: Art By J Steel
Certain locations and buildings always hold a special place in our hearts. Artist Jonathan Steel captures those places and memories, beautifully, to be treasured for years. “We form a particular emotional attachment to the family home. But the places we love can be just about anywhere… the location where we were married or […]
A song to belong
A new exhibition at Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū by a local artist gives a glimpse into what five New Zealand families with a wide range of cultural and ancestral connections feel about place and belonging in Aotearoa. Artist Olivia Webb, whose own Christchurch-based family is part of the exhibit, worked […]
The joy of painting: Art Metro
An art school, gallery and supply store, Art Metro helps make Canterbury the creative place it is. Metropol sits down with Malene Reynolds Laugesen to ask a few questions about her teaching role at the Papanui studio. WHEN DID YOU BEGIN TEACHING AT ART METRO, AND WHAT BRINGS YOU THE MOST JOB SATISFACTION? […]
Hugo’s Hanmer holiday: Tait Gallery
Tait Gallery at Hanmer Springs has a beautiful selection of ceramics, pottery, glassware, wood turning and jewellery, as well as a large display of pictures by artists both emerging and established. The portfolio includes landscapes by Tony Roche, Ross Lee, Debbie Lambert, Karen Werner, Charles Pickworth, Jane Riley and Jane Sinclair; water colours […]
Love of landscapes
For Struan Macdonald, art is like second nature to him. And it’s the New Zealand nature such as Mount Aspiring Nation Park, the Otago High Country, Abel Tasman and the West Coast that inspires this landscape painter. “It can be the afternoon light on a mountain side or some kind of weather effect,” he […]
Bic’s musical homecoming
Bic Runga is one of Canterbury’s finest entertainment exports. This summer she is set to headline two noteworthy local performances, Nostalgia Festival and Ōtautahi Together, a free concert to mark 10 years since the February 2011 earthquake. Metropol catches up with the talented musician ahead of a bumper summer season. You have two hometown performances […]
Ending on a high note: Ali Cat Productions
Award-winning Canterbury performer Ali Harper is not letting a year of pandemic postponements stop her. She is determined to end the year on a high note by performing two shows in December. The first show, Christmas Joy will be held on December 5, followed by four performances of The Look of Love on […]
Making Paradise
We’ve long searched for paradise, that idyllic place or state where everything is perfect and now, thanks to Kiwi singer songwriter Anderson Rocio, there are plenty more reasons to love paradise – a million to be precise. That’s how many Spotify streams Rocio’s latest song Paradise has had since the song made its global debut […]