Community

Sumner Library 150 tukutuku panel

Sumner Library is closed until further notice.

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This panel was designed, created and constructed by the Sumner team, as part of the Tukutuku project in 2009 to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Christchurch City Libraries.

Sumner, our village, our beach, our gathering place.

  • Wool
  • 122 x 60 cm
  • Staff contributing to the panel were Lorraine Dowling, Michele Kiely, Greg Malcolm, Louise McKay and Diane Bargas. Community volunteers included Jennifer Smith, Rose Phillips, Viv Johnson and others.

The tukutuku panel is showing Sumner as a village/community by the sea. The blocks represent houses nestled into the volcanic hills, and the houses have been interlocked as a representation of our community gathering together and supporting one another. The blocks could also be interpreted as books or PC screens with the library being an important part of village life.

The pattern used for the sea at the bottom of the panel is based on half of the traditional ‘patiki’ (flounder) shape. This refers to the early history of the area, which has long been a site for food gathering with particular emphasis on fish and shellfish.

The horizon signifies continual learning, developing and extending knowledge, and features the seven Matariki stars as a reminder of the season during which our panel came together.