Community to contribute to Libraries’ anniversary Māori art project

3 June 2009

The Christchurch City Libraries is inviting residents to contribute to its tukutuku panel project commemorating the Libraries’ 150th anniversary.

Staff teams from 19 libraries are weaving the tukutuku panels which will be completed with community input in time for the main anniversary celebrations in August. The community input into this large-scale Māori art project will mark Matariki for library users and supporters throughout Christchurch.

It is the first time a Māori art project will be completed on such a large scale, with every team from the Libraries network being involved. Each panel will represent the history and uniqueness of the library weaving it and will be put online at the Libraries website http://library150.com/ for public voting in July.

Libraries customers are being invited to join the teams during the community tukutuku sessions at individual libraries (listed below).

Tukutuku is a traditional woven Māori art form found in the wharenui that relates to the carved ancestor it is next to. The panels created by the Libraries’ team will commemorate the 150th anniversary of public library service in Christchurch.

While strict cultural protocols guide the making of traditional tukutuku panels, from harvesting of the native plants used for the weaving through to the physical process of the weaving and their design and display, the 150th anniversary tukutuku panels will be constructed from non-traditional materials and will also incorporate modern designs.

Timetable for community input at the various libraries

Akaroa

Friday 12 June, 1.00 – 3.00pm

Bishopdale

Thursday 18 June, 11.00 – 12.00pm
Friday 19 June, 11.00 – 12.00pm

Central

Tuesday 16 June, 2.00 – 3.30pm
Wednesday 17 June, 10.00 – 11.30am or 2.00 – 3.30pm
Thursday 18 June, 12.00 – 1.30pm
Friday 19 June, 4.00 – 5.00pm

Fendalton

Monday 15 June, 10.30 – 12.30pm
Friday 26 June, 2.00 – 4.00pm

Halswell

Thursday 4 June, 10.00 – 12.00pm
Wednesday 24 June, 10.00 – 12.00pm

Linwood

Wednesday 10 June, 2.00 – 5.00pm
Thursday 18 June, 10.30 – 12.00pm

New Brighton

Tuesday 9 June, 10.00 – 12.00pm
Wednesday 17 June, 2.00 – 5.00pm

Papanui

Tuesday 16 June, 10.00 – 12.00pm or 2.00 – 4.00pm

Redwood

Tuesday 16 June, 2.00 – 4.00pm
Thursday 25 June, 10.30 – 12.30pm

Shirley

Friday 12 June, 10.00 – 2.00pm

South

Tuesday 9 June, 2.00 – 4.00pm

Spreydon

Tuesday 23 June, 10.30 – 12.30pm

Sumner

Tuesday 9 June, 11.00 – 12.00pm

Upper Riccarton

Monday 15 June, 10.30 – 11.30am
Thursday 18 June, 2.00 – 3.00pm