30 September 2011 – 1.05pm
There’s no better way to capitalise on Wellington’s famous sunny day conditions than to continue building on the tape art experience from Day 1, and set against the backdrop of an inspiring blue sky above Whānganui a Tāra (Wellington Harbour) the tape art of Erica Duthie and Struan Ashby continues. And while yesterday it was pretty close to ground level with people and a hill being taped-up… today, enter in two cranes hoisting our artists to much loftier heights than yesterdays ladders could reach.
When today’s photos were taken, groups of school children off all ages were running past already itching to play with the tape – however, security bollards around the big cranes put paid to their little plans… but only for a short time we promise!
And on the wall – a hill, which on it sits a huge (4 story tall) lighthouse, and when I was walking past – a basket with people inside (above which I hope will be a hot-air baloon, OR some other mode of transport).
So, the plan is that the sand-coloured wall immediately to the left of the main doors to Te Papa will be covered in tape art… and it will be joined by more tape art on the grey wall to the right of the main doors this weekend – and at the end of the project, the tape will be torn down by members of the public (more or less, anyone who wants to come along and deinstall it).
Question – have you been along yet? If not, go – grab some pics of yourself there, add them to your own facebook album and then share them to https://www.facebook.com/#!/TePapa
or look out for our our blog on facebook and add your pics in we’d love to share your experiences with the world.
29 September 2011 – 1.24pm
It’s a sunny Thursday with lots of people popping past the front façade of Te Papa. What better conditions in which to transform the exterior walls of the national museum into a piece of impromptu social art. Tape artist Erica Duthie and her partner Struan Ashby will spend the next four days constructing images out of tape on the front walls of Te Papa. Once finished, the art will cover the two walls that create the boundary for the front entrance and forecourt (opposite the Circa Theatre).
Erica’s specialty is portraits of people – and that means everyone’s invited to come down and take a look… and even join in the fun. Here you can see Erica with one of her first portrait subjects Henriette. Both Erica and Struan say having people involved is a great thing, and that children will definitely be allowed to touch, in fact the pair will see people touching the tape and sticking it back up where it peels off as a matter of crucial maintenance.
“Oh, you’ve got to catch the weather here” says Erica. The project has actually begun a day early because of forecasted rain on Sunday. In previous media articles, she’s told reporters that she’s going to have to contend with Wellington’s famous wind, in one of the capitals windiest months.
We’ll be following the tape art as it goes up and then as it comes down in a big fun public tear-the-tape-off deinstallation on Sunday.
Where: Front walls of Te Papa (near the main entrance)
When: Thursday to Saturday
Why: Festival of Carnivale
Who: you… pop on down have a look, and see if you can get your portrait up there… and follow the posts or share your own pics to
https://www.facebook.com/#!/TePapa
Erica Duthie, with one of her first portrait subjects, Henriette
