Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū

“Well spectacular art gallery, modern, fully kitted out, but strange the vast staircase gotta climb up to first floor. Sure a lift, but that ain't going to get prams and kids in....why? Think esculators... Now I'm hot and sweaty when I want to be relaxed n peace,lol, maybe I gotta take up running to come see Art,weird. Just into the big hall on right, yeah what is the first course? Neo colonial White painting of NZ. Really? Suppose one path, but really if have such a huge investment in building excellence where is the wow ? I get thru the Doris Lusk and all. Really about white man taking from Maori, and then taking from The Creator, by burning it.... And letting everyone of it with million miles of Barb wire fences and trespass notices..lol. well that's just one view maybe. Yeah thought be better to write the real story first. We find that at the back, of Maori land marches, pretests about white buying 250 acres for £10. Now there is some real at and message......gee.. That room should be the first room.. It's the first story maybe. Then could see the white farmers paints in their real light...imho. I could be wrong. Loved the realism of the land marches. Heh powerful stuff. And their they are, speaking their groceries into a white man's microphone, sheltered under white man umbrellas.... Contrast and conflict yet voicing and protection.... Treaty stuff maybe. (Heh I'm an immigrant from Cornwall really...) Loved the left room of wood carving, taking a NZ native tree, asking for it from the earth, then after cutting, man gently carving and with some five bringing forth the hidden beauty buried behind, maybe it was always there. Just like the Carver, simple person looking for meaning in a tree trunk, fingering carving, loving it, and revealing beauty. Better than just making another white man's post to nail it access barred by more barbed wire, just thinking. Lol. Yeah let's reshuffle the message... It's all messed up.... Hard to dig out, slightly list in such a beautiful exterior of a building. Overall quiet, peaceful viewing, but those stairs.... Maybe next time less $$ on all that glad and steel, more on esculators and wow with truthful messaging....lol.”

“Built in 2003 this modern Art Galley is well worth a visit. There is a Cafe serving meals & drinks. Also a well stocked gift shop with many NZ inspired gifts. A major display of Maori art focused on land dispossession and pollution of land, water and sea with industrial and agricultural pollutants. Entry is free but bags need to be checked in.”

“One of the world’s best Galleries. Architecturally stunning and a tribute to the curators and artists exhibited here. An exemplary education facility too. Free to the visitors so be sure and buy something beautiful in the stylishly curated gift shop to show your appreciation.”

“it was cool experience to get to know Maori culture, and the satff (grandpa gentleman ) was also lovely. he explained some if the art work with his knowledge. thank you!”