 Public Art in Central Christchurch
Preface
Christchurch has an acknowledged rich heritage of public art and historically,
whilst it may not be able to claim the earliest public monument
in New Zealand, it does have the earliest recognised commissioned
commemorative sculpture in the form of the Godley statue by Thomas
Woolner. This was unveiled in August 1867.
Since that date the city has acquired a wide range of public
art works that now includes fountains and murals as well as
statues and sculpture.
In 1983 the Robert McDougall Art Gallery, with the assistance
of two researchers on a project employment scheme, undertook to
survey and document 103 works of art in public places throughout
Christchurch. Unfortunately even though this was completed, time
did not permit in-depth research, or funding to enable full
publication of findings.
Early in 1997, Councillor Anna Crighton, requested that the
1983 survey be reviewed and amended where necessary and a
publication produced as a document describing public art in the
city. From June until December 1997, Simone Stephens carried out
new research updating records, as many public art works had
either been removed or lost in the intervening fourteen years. As
many of the more significant public art works of Christchurch are
sited between the four Avenues of the inner city, this has been
the focus of the 1997 survey the results of which are summarised
within this publication.
Neil Roberts
Senior Curator
Robert McDougall Art Gallery
This publication was created to locate and document the works of
art that are publicly owned in the central Christchurch area. The
project has focused on the area within the four Avenues, a
section of the city that contains the majority of Christchurch's
notable public art works. The confinement of the survey to this
area also serves to high light areas of the city not yet enhanced
by art works.
For the purpose of this study a work of art has been defined
as a memorial, sculpture, fountain, or mural, that is publicly
owned. Other criteria is that the art work involve artistic
input, and be in a location accessible to the public. An attempt
has made been to include art that does not necessarily fit within
the project's definition. These art works are not publicly owned,
however, they are accessible to the public. Subsequently these
works have been listed in the appendices.
This document summarises the information that has been
collected by the Robert McDougall Art Gallery. This 'popular
history' is to inform and to act as a base for further study.
Simone Stephens
16 December, 1997
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