Kiwis Globally Invited to Be Part of Sound Art for Peace

11 APRIL 2019

Kiwis Globally Invited to Be Part of Anzac Sound Art for Peace

Curators of The Sound of Peace, an art soundscape are inviting the nation and Kiwis throughout the world to record their message of peace online.

The audio recordings will play in surround sound at a free, public, musical event in the grounds of Auckland’s historic St David’s Memorial Church on ANZAC Eve 24 April.

“We are inviting everyone to record a message of peace in whichever language they know and love. Visit www.RememberThem.nz and click on the record button” says Paul Baragwanath, the project’s instigator and director.

“Digital artist and musician, Jeff Smith, will then choreograph the voices into the soundscape artwork. It’s going to be very beautiful.”

The Sound of Peace is part of The Art of Remembrance project established by Friends of St David’s Trust in 2015. In addition to the soundscape, for ANZAC Eve this year members of the public will be treated to a one-off concert outside in the grounds of St David’s.

The performance features internationally celebrated mezzo soprano opera singer, Kristin Darragh, who recently sang The Messiah with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Darragh will lead the Off Broadway Big Band and guests in songs of remembrance and peace.

Guests will be addressed by distinguished speakers including The Hon Phil Goff, Mayor of Auckland, and Colonel John Holley from the New Zealand Defence Force.

The 24 April event starts at St David’s Memorial Church, 70 Khyber Pass Road, Auckland at 6.30pm. Visit www.RememberThem.nz for more details.

Paul Baragwanath comments:

“As ANZAC Day approaches, we reflect on the horrific losses of World War One, and other wars. Lest we forget. We also grapple with the massacre in Christchurch. We are creating this free, community event and nationwide art project because art, like architecture, has a vital role to play in remembrance of the past and to inspire and uphold us in the present.”

The back story - remembrance a century on

After World War One, a place of remembrance and peace was built by a grieving
community. Light-filled, made of permanent materials, St David’s Memorial Church building in Auckland, New Zealand, would be a living memorial, for all time. It was dedicated as The Soldiers’ Memorial Church in October 1927. Future generations would not forget.

Yet, less than a century later, the Memorial Church looked set for demolition.

A grass-roots campaign began in earnest led by Friends of St David’s Trust to save the building. A record $1,000,000 was raised through The Art of Remembrance project for its restoration. Yet, the Memorial Church still had no heritage protection under the law.

On the morning of 15 March 2019, after a five-year long campaign, the verdict was out:
Auckland Council’s Independent Hearings Panel granted St David’s Memorial Church rare Category ‘A’ Historic Heritage status. This is the highest level of protection available to a heritage place.

Later the same day, the horrifying news from Christchurch came through. New Zealand tumbled into mourning the dead and reflecting on how this could happen, now, in our country.

For the Friends of St David’s, 15 March 2019 will forever be the day our place of peace gained heritage protection in Auckland, and the day a massacre took the nation’s peace in Christchurch.

Paul Baragwanath, Founder of the Friends of St David’s Trust, comments: “Places of peace and community connection are needed now, as they always have been.”

The Trust’s vision is for St David’s Memorial Church to become a place of connection and uplift for all. The Trust is working with the owners of the building, the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, to develop a plan for its future.

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