AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL

MEDIA RELEASE

23 March 2007

Right at home in the CBD’s Living Room

Watch out for some exciting and unusual additions to the CBD in April and May as part of Auckland City Council’s 2007 Living Room series – bringing art to the central city.

Throughout the two months, eight visual and performing art interventions will appear in various locations around the CBD. Each one aims to grab the attention of passers-by and add interest and entertainment to the public’s day-to-day activities.

The first installation to appear will be Makeover, located at 11 carparks around the central city from 2 April. The work by Lauren Lysaght involves the transformation of mundane mobility car parks into glamorous spots for permitted parkers to enjoy. The work aims to create a fun and glamorous welcome to the city for people with a disability.

During April and May, Aucklanders can ponder over two installations by Gaye Jurisich, which will be displayed in the Britomart Building and St Kevin’s Arcade, Karangahape Road. Jurisich uses electrical insulation tape to create ornate patterns across the floor. The installation, called Runner, aims to take everyday materials and give them value and meaning. Take a look at the decorative and complex mosaic and see what it says to you.

For those passing through High Street, Vulcan Lane, Durham Lane and Karangahape Road, keep your eyes peeled for some unusual characters taking part in This Other City from 16 April. The installation by John Radford encourages people to take a fresh look at the city we walk through every day. Stop for a while and watch the “Surveyor” and the “Makers” as they work tirelessly planning, measuring, constructing a whole new city.

Eight multi-talented performers will enliven the CBD by celebrating Auckland's diverse and dynamic character through Word on the Streets to Unite Peoples or WOTS UP. The street performance will travel down Queen Street on Friday lunchtimes from 6 April to 4 May. The performance group, Whare Purakau, will stop at relevant locations to present spoken word, contemporary dance and Maori song to portray aspects of local people and historical sites.

Auckland’s maritime history will be brought to life in April with Buoys. This unique installation from Erwin Van Asbeck and Charlotte Fisher will be found at points along Auckland CBD’s original foreshore line, and uses large marine buoys that once guided sailing vessels around Auckland Harbour.

The installation by Pacific Echoes’, called Auckestrated Moves, will be at Freyberg Square on Tuesday and Thursday lunchtimes from 17 May to 26 May. As the public go about their daily business and cross the oversized chess board, their actions trigger responses from the waiting orchestra.

Baby, where are the fine things you promised me? gently invites the public to reflect on the lost utopia of the quarter-acre block. Based on one of the country’s earliest models for simple houses for the working class, Baby…? is somewhere between installation and street performance. The installation is based around a miniature house complete with occupant who plays music, cooks or shares a cup of tea with passers-by. The piece will be at in different location throughout the CBD from 19 May.

The final piece from this year’s Living Room is an interactive sound installation by Sam Morrison. Listen out for some weird and wonderful sounds around lampposts in the CBD.

Auckland City Council’s 2007 Living Room series aims to enliven the central city’s public spaces and encourage people to discover the vibrant sights and sounds of the CBD.

Living Room is funded by the CBD targeted rate and is one of many projects that form part of a 10-year action plan to enhance the urban environment and support the vitality and attractiveness of the CBD.

For more details on the Living Room or the CBD strategy, visit http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/cbd

ENDS

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