Free art event will help children uncover city’s past

Christchurch children will get an opportunity to peep into the past at a special community art event at Tūranga in late August.

The free event will see Dunedin-based community artist Janet de Wagt working with the children to help them make their own shoebox dioramas using some of the historic photos of Christchurch and Canterbury that can be found on Christchurch Libraries’ Canterbury Stories website.

“Janet will be encouraging the kids to travel back in time by making a scene of themselves amidst historic Christchurch photos,’’ says Dr Rosemary Baird, an outreach advisor with Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga.

Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga has organised the event, using funding from Christchurch City Council’s Creative Communities Scheme.

“We hope that through the art project children can imagine themselves back in the past and ask questions about what it would have been like to live in Christchurch 20, 50, or 100 years ago. It is a chance for children to learn about our city, and how it has changed over time, in a fun and creative way,’’ Dr Baird says.

There will be two opportunities for children to participate in the creative workshops, with one session on from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Saturday 27 August and another session at the same time the following day. The workshops are free and offered on a first in, first served basis.

The shoebox dioramas created by the children will go on show to the public at a free exhibition at Te Whare Waiututu Kate Sheppard House in the October school holidays.

Christchurch Libraries Digital Curation Librarian Sarah Snelling says selecting photos for use in the dioramas was a fun task that involved searching out both geographical images and images of subjects or activities that might appeal to children.

“The geographic images were needed so that the children can create their scene. I selected a variety of locations around Christchurch so that the children could potentially choose an area they know, or they could use location images that they just like the look of,’’ Ms Snelling says.

“I selected images showing subjects and activities that would be a bit of fun and appeal to children, so things like animals, vehicles, children from the past.’’

*The art workshops will be held in Spark Place on the ground floor of Tūranga and all materials will be supplied. Parents will need to stay with their children and are welcome to make their own shoebox diorama.