While most of the world was glued to the opening of the Olympics on Sunday, I was keeping an eye on a closing - that of Michael Parekowhai's
On First Looking Into Homer's Chapman in Christchurch.
Even just following this installation at a distance has been affecting, and the tweets about it closing made me feel a little weepy - so I gathered together a little record.
[<a href="http://storify.com/auchmill/homer-s-chapman" target="_blank">View the story "'On first looking into Homer's Chapman'" on Storify</a>]<h1>'On first looking into Homer's Chapman'</h1><h2>The installation of Michael Parekowhai's 2011 Venice Biennale in Christchurch ended on Sunday 29 July; a reconfiguration of the show opens on 25 August at Te Papa in Wellington.</h2><p>Storified by · Mon, Jul 30 2012 02:16:31</p><div>A snapshot of Michael Parekowhai's "On first looking into Chapman's Homer"fingerlickinfindlay</div><div>(The work in Venice)</div><div>Michael Parekowhai: On First Looking into Chapman's HomerChristchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu</div><div>Scoop</div><div>Staticflickr</div><div>Perceptivetravel</div><div>Staticflickr</div><div>Stuff</div><div>Christchurchartgallery</div><div>Rose Campbell and Chris Archer playing Michael Parekowhai's piano. Open until 8pm tonight. Finally closing 8pm tomorrow http://pic.twitter.com/AHuCpafQChch Art Gallery</div><div>Rose Campbell and Chris Archer playing a duet. #mpbulls http://pic.twitter.com/PcgsEjC8Chch Art Gallery</div><div>You have 9 hours left to see Michael Parekowhai's piano being played at 212 Madras St. Closing 8pm tonight. #mpbullsChch Art Gallery</div><div>We reached our 10,000th visitor seeing Michael Parekowhai's piano being played today. Closes late at 8pm tonight.Chch Art Gallery</div><div>Michael Parekowhai's carved piano is being played through until closing tonight at 8pm. Last chance to see it before we pack it away.Chch Art Gallery</div><div>A good crowd this evening. 80 minutes to go now. #mpbulls http://pic.twitter.com/wgKIdCTtChch Art Gallery</div><div>Amazing performance. One of the most powerful we've seen. 20 people here watching.Chch Art Gallery</div><div>James Buchanan from Burnside High and representing his Ngai Tahu Iwi is the final pianist on Michael's work. Now playing a duet with his MumChch Art Gallery</div><div>http://pic.twitter.com/IDYyiqA0Chch Art Gallery</div><div>Everyone holding hands around the piano singing pokarekareana. Not a dry eye *sob*.Chch Art Gallery</div><div>Jenny Harper thanked everyone who came and played, and watched, and made Michael's work come to life. Now it ends here.Chch Art Gallery</div><div>Our special thanks tonight to Bill Karaitiana for his closing karakia. This exhibition has given us so many special moments. Thanks Michael.Chch Art Gallery</div>
In just after a month, the work comes closer to home. Te Papa has acquired one of the central pieces,
He Kōrero Pūrākau mo te Awanui o Te Motu: story of a New Zealand river - the elaborately carved, pillar-box red Steinway grand piano. It and the rest of the installation will go on display at Te Papa for a
month-long special exhibition on 25 August. The Steinway will be played daily between 12.30pm and 1.30pm.
Alongside the Parekowhai will be three recently acquired sculptures by Jim Allen and four works drawn from the Museum's holdings of Colin McCahon's work, including the recent acquisition
Koru 1, 2, 3 (1965). (You can read a post about
the show on Te Papa's blog .)
No comments:
Post a Comment