The Kiosk 03

Originally an initiative of Julaine Stephenson and the Oblique Trust, The Kiosk became a permanent public art site of The Physics Room in May 03. With support form the Christchurch City Council maintenance team and Creative Communities Christchurch, The Kiosk was restored and programmed with an emphasis on local and emerging talent. The Kiosk, a block away from the project space on High Street , also acts as a street level link to The Physics Room. Toshi Endo’s video piece, the first work installed in the new Kiosk programme drew a virtual and direct link between the public site and project space.

Further video works across The Kiosk 03 series included documentary, VJ mixes and a hyper-speed version of the 1939 classic “Gone with the Wind”. Visiting artist Sheena McCrae condensed the 219 minute epic film down to 5 minutes, creating Gone. In her piece the narrative remains but all detail becomes indecipherable, except the repetition of Vivien Leigh’s line “I’ll think about that tomorrow ”.

Recipient of the Creative New Zealand / Department of Conservation Wild Creations residency in 2002,documentary filmmaker Zoe Roland installed her work Sanctuary simultaneously in The Kiosk and other public sites in the country’s main centres. Filmed in Tiritiri Matangi Island, this work brought the sounds and sights of native birds into competition with the urban populated landscape.

Naomi Lamb presented a show reel of her VJ works and those of others making up the Project Shown* team in Data Unit. Original footage and sampled material were mixed by Lamb and Tobias Lee, with sound provided by John Hedges and Snippet. This selection of VJ sets was presented in The Kiosk in association with the first Christchurch VJ Symposium “New Environs”.

Christchurch ’s art community was connected to Auckland’s with Rm 401’s contribution to The Kiosk . A partial reconstruction of the Auckland artist-run space was installed in miniature, complete with soundtrack and post card window. Connections were cast further a field in The Little Art Show That Could, curated by visiting artist David Clayton. Inviting miniature artworks from contributors, Clayton installed the work of 18 artists in his carefully constructed gallery sent in from around Australasia, Europe and America.

Object works ranged from Stella Cruickshank’s collection of subverted soft toys completely filling The Kiosk and crammed up against its windows in I Wanna be Sedated, to the physically minimal yet equally sinister Blade in Gum by Eddie Clemens. Also using found items (Hubba Bubba and a razor), Clemens’ work manifests a common childhood nightmare.

The characters created by Jamie Richardson appeared in The Kiosk as drawings rendered 3D. The Papadopolis Brothers, modelled in plaster with little detail and drained of colour are tributes to comic book illustration styles and gaming icons . Fellow Christchurch artist Victoria Bell, also approaching object-making as drawing in 3-dimensions, created a soft-sculptural version of her pet cat, a colourful and crafty homage to the tactile and textile arts.

The Physics Room Annual 2003
Published October 2004
ISBN: 0-9582359-7-X
Wholesale: $12.00; Retail $20
42 pages, 16 colour plates

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KIOSK 03