In memoriam: art for victims of Christchurch quake
NZICA recently purchased two artworks by Canterbury artists as a permanent tribute to those members who lost their lives in the Christchurch earthquake, and those members who lost loved ones.
The paintings were unveiled in December at the Christchurch office. The event was attended by members’ families who had travelled from as far as Australia. Immediate Past President Ross Jackson FCA and President Richard Austin FCA also attended.
Richard Austin (right) unveils Market Day in Cathedral Square.
In the brief but moving ceremony, Jackson extended heartfelt condolences to the families and talked of the resilience of the Canterbury people in a year that we will never forget.
Austin, there not only in a professional capacity but also as a member who has lost a loved one, thanked NZICA on behalf of the families and commended the organisation on its humility and humanity. Austin, who helped select the paintings for the memorial, said the two were chosen as “they showed Christchurch as it was before the earthquake”.
“They hark back to what we had and what we have lost. They are also a reminder of what we need to try and rebuild,” he said.
The first artwork is an original watercolour, Market day at Cathedral Square, by Kelvin McMillan. It depicts a bright busy day in the Square.
“This painting was a bit of an experiment,” McMillan told the reception. “I had to hide the Clarendon towers and office blocks which dominated the skyline while trying to bring to the fore the lovely Post Office, stalls and vibrancy of the square. The difficulty was how to do a painting without making it look like a colourful fruit bowl. I think I have achieved this.”
The second piece is limited edition print, Daybreak, by Julia Drake. This complements the first piece – being the view you would have if you turned around from Kelvin’s painting and looked the other way in Cathedral Square.
Both these pieces are housed in NZICA’s new Christchurch office. NZICA is committed to the rebuild of Christchurch and to providing ongoing and innovative initiatives that support the members in the Canterbury region.
NZICA remembers those members who lost
their lives on 22 February 2011
Carey Bird
Helen Chambers
Philip McDonald
Blair O’Connor
Deborah Roberts
Emma Shaharudin
NZIC also offers its condolences to those members who lost loved ones.
February 2012