“But this is the vision of Hope I need in the world at the moment.”

Hope spurs me into action to fight injustice rather than be overwhelmed and think I can’t make a difference. Continuing do the decolonising work is important and until we can see our place in the system and how we white people benefit from it, we won’t and can’t change it…. Fight the good fight whānau! Kia kaha.
_______________poem:
Hope is not getting beaten by a smart ass 12 year old in a suburban tennis competition
Hope is not a lead balloon
Hope is not a drunk clown
Hope is not a bucket with a hole in it, or a bucket full of shit
Hope is not pissing into the wind
Hope is not a cross-stitch sampler in a motel toilet
Hope is not a pyramid scheme, a marketing campaign, a timeshare, or a plastic souvenir keyring
Hope is not a missing person; it might have popped out for a bit, but it will always leave a note that says “Back in 5”

Hope is holding onto a flying fox with one hand, while trying to zip up your jacket with the other one
Hope is answering the door in your underpants
Hope is almost tripping over and spilling a hot cup of tea down your trousers
Hope is a slap in the face, an early morning alarm, a cold shower
Hope is a joke during a eulogy
Hope is a really good drill, one with a battery pack
Hope is a needle and thread, or a glue stick
Hope is a phoenix, a daffodil, a lighted match
Hope is a bee-keeper

“This is a direct response to a panic attack I experienced, and an attempt to dissociate from it by putting it into an art piece.

I took inspiration from Munch's The Scream, with the swirling words bombarding the mind and overwhelming it. Lumped together, these words lose their power as individual statement and come to represent the general feeling of negativity experienced during these difficult moments.”

$50

Around the time I turned 27 I began to feel the weight of societal pressures bearing down on me.

I felt that by this point I should be more connected, be making better career progress and so on. This piece came from an angsty place, from the feeling of alienation from the world and fearing what lay ahead for me- much like the uncertainty hanging over us during our collective lockdown experience.

$50

“Painted in the second week of Level Four lockdown, Naroko is a tribute to all of the essential workers who fought on the front lines of the coronavirus.

The items hidden in her kimono are just some of the “essential” items that people panic-bought at the start of the pandemic.Her name is a play on word- it spells “corona” backwards in Japanese. Although ti’s not a real name, it sounds like it could be because a lot of Japanese women have the kimchi character “ko” (meaning “child”) at the end of their first name.”

Amy Couling is a New Zealand/Japanese visual artist based in Christchurch. She grew up as bilingual, “bicultural” kid of both countries and she draws daily inspiration from her heritage. She strives to intertwine Western and Eastern themes into her work to promote diversity and mutual understanding between people of different cultures.

Instagram: @amy.couling

Acrylic on canvas, $500

larkins.barbi@gmail.com

Instagram

“I started teaching myself to draw at the start of the year.

I drew the onion for my mother’s 99th birthday. She swears by them for health and longevity.”

(Watercolour pencils on acid-free paper)

“ My creative work is always closely linked to my journey through life” 

I find great comfort in creativity and there is a great meditative quality to working with clay.  

I have made ChCh my home for the last 13 years and I have bought my enthusiasm for clay to as many schools and young people as possible.  

It was in Venezuela at the age of 3 that I was offered my first lump of clay, my family had emigrated from Argentina to Venezuela and my mum’s first Venezuelan friends had a very community minded ceramic studio. Later in my teens my parents emigrated to the UK and it was in London that I obtained a ceramics degree from Central School of Art.

I have a studio at the back of my home and that is often where you will find me.”

Driftwood Hearts $15; Home Safe $85; Deeply Rooted $70

“This is one of the drawings I made in a series in which I explored my shadow.

Bringing attention to my physical shadow creatively gave space to consider my emotional shadow and deeply feel what I may have been ignoring. The earthy colours reflect a grounding of these feelings so that I can process them.”

creator of Original paintings, cruelty-free make-up, festival accessories / bio-glitter design and wire jewellery

$60

Instagram: @creative_cameleon

“The lockdown was a precious gift of time to me. It enabled me to pick up scraps and leftovers and half-done projects and stitch a little each day.

This quilt top is of course unfinished but once I can purchase materials I will quilt this to make a warm cover for my bed. 

I wanted to show how scraps of time and scraps of materials have come together in a harmonious whole. It's not finished and it is not fancy but it is a memento of this parcel of time.”

“The world around us is ever-changing; very rarely does life follow neat straight lines, no matter how hard we try to maintain equilibrium.

What happens when clarity is broken by external elements affecting the balance we try hard to achieve and maintain?Do we wipe out and discard all the work we have achieved to date and start again, or does the new chaotic element become part of the narrative?

Humanity has succeeded throughout history due to its ability to adapt and adjust. While there may be no straight lines between A and B, if we persevere through obstacles that present themselves we may be able to develop our own form of balance and clarity in life while absorbing, learning, and discarding lessons along the way.”

$7400- Debra has kindly offered half of the proceeds from this work to be donated to XCHC.

debbimcleod0@gmail.com

“The tree is made from strips of paper folded and quilled using traditional and modern techniques.

It's my first quilled piece that I've made while learning this craft during lockdown. I normally do realism style acrylic paintings so this was a fun project to do something different. It's loosely based on an oak tree, there's no significance or meaning behind it. I simply just wanted to quill a big old looking tree- I love trees that show age and character.”

$180

This piece expresses the burning desire of the smoker to continue their addiction, pouring their very essence into the creation of firey self-destruction.

The name “Hooks” speaks to the literal consumption of a brand, the internalising of a hot mark with which all smokers are tarred.

In the smoke, the outline of a nicotine molecule can be faintly seen, highlighting the limited understanding of what drives this process beyond the mere chemical composition of tobacco combustion.

Hands are tools which often go unnoticed and undervalued by many each day. Yet it is hands THAT help, care, feed, nurture, support and work so others’ health and safety is kept.

This cushion recognises the unpaid and/or underpaid hands of so many people who have had to work through all stages of NZ’s covid-19 Rahui. Their time, labour and emotional commitment is represented by a WWII blanket, the hands of people before me who sacrificed relationships and dreams so that the future world could experience peace and celebrate love- the two most underused forms of energy today. The coloured lines represent the disorganised trajectory and virulent nature of this virus highlighting how collective health matters- more so for the people who work with their hands.

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Fluid Acrylic on canvas

“This artwork was created to celebrate the vibrancy of colour found in our natural environment.

How we draw inspiration from our surroundings. And how important it is for us to protect a world so vulnerable at this current time.

The use of plywood in my artwork gives the final piece a more organic look. The wood grain adds another textural element.”

Acrylic on plywood, $1000

Instagram

“Dylan Thomas once implored us to 'not go gently into that good night’. One must wonder, though, have we gently sleep-walked into our current calamity?

This moment was captured in Dallington, beside the Avon River. I was inspired by the silhouettes of the trees against the backdrop of thick fog when a man on a bike approached, informed me that he was a member of the neighbourhood watch program and questioned my activities. Once I’d satisfied him that I wasn’t on a COVID-19 spreading mission, he departed into the night, and my lens followed him until he was illuminated by the streetlamp in the left third of the frame, wherein I pressed the shutter. Upon seeing my creation later, I perceived his solitary presence in the photograph—and movement towards the darker thirds of the image—as symbolic of society’s recent, wilful and indifferent journey into inevitable chaos.

$200 inc wooden frame by The Silvan

Instagram

“What was originally a thought in Disco ELYSIUM (my game of the year for 2019) has become ‘Lost Identity’”

Jack Alice imagined itself into existence. A goth-glitter gremlin that mostly comes out at night, this Jack has been exploring gender, identity, isolation and dissociation.

Pay what you want! Throw an offer my way :) 0273435225

Etsy

“This letter highlights the complexities of human relating & friendship within polyamory during a time when the lack of physical intimacy brought forth the depth of authentic emotional connection.”

“The title of this piece ‘I am half sick of shadows’ is a line taken from Alfred Tennyson’s poem The Lady of Shalott.

The woman in this poem is trapped in a tower from which she cannot escape due to an unknown curse. She lives her life creating art (weaving) and dreaming of life outside. The lockdown felt similar for me as I was trapped in my house in Christchurch by an invisible virus awaiting the freedom to live life again.”

$295

“Whilst staying at home during the lockdown I was refreshing memories looking for inspiration.

Finally I recalled a visit at my friends' house on Cashmere Hill and an amazing view of Christchurch at night from their terrace. I thought that I couldn't go there to see it again but I could paint it and see it on my wall whenever I want :)”

Watercolour, $290

Instagram

'This piece came about during my art journaling process, which I started again in lockdown.

I wanted to try doing my diary doodle drawings on a larger scale. 'Re-enchant' is an exploration of how a changing perception can illuminate life again.”

PAPER COLLAGE

$90

“This coat was sewn with the minimum of fabric consumption.

This one is just a prototype, and I can make them to order from different fabrics so feel free to get in touch. I’m a resident artist working here at XCHC so feel free to pop by to discuss options or call 0272287618.”

Sizes 34 (1.3m x 2.02m) to 46 (1.47m x 2.09m)

Design and Alterations - 027 228 7618

Instagram

“This is the distillation of utilized potential that I created over the course of Rahui.

I painted many things with my fingers, and this was created from the leftover paint on my fingertips of those many pieces. I call it the “B-Side of Lockdown”.”

“When I do embroidery I concentrate and focus. It helps me relax. 

Lockdown was a super stressful time, so I wanted to make people happy. I love food and vegetables are beautiful and cute. So I made it... peas and love.”

$30

Instagram

Instagram

“This began as a lockdown project; learn to create stone bowls from river rocks.

The outside of the stone is left in its naturally-found state while the inside is carved and polished into a new form. Nothing is added to the stone and each piece is totally unique, the stone itself dictates the finished.

The rocks have all been found on our land in Port Levy or while walking on the local beach.

Maria Lee has been a practicing artist for over 30 years and has a degree in Visual Arts and Design while Daniel Vos has a background in fine furniture making and stone work.

Pictured piece- Long bowl, Port Levy basalt $580

Other pieces vary in size, shape and price

Artist Facebook Page
Instagram

“Freedom looks like different things to different people - a blank landscape.

During lockdown, I dreamt of freedom and got creative. I started Sunday crafternoon zoom sessions to hold space for creativity and hang out with friends. I played with watercolours and learnt from YouTube. I knitted and coloured and painted rocks and made it out the other side! Watch this space for future Sunday crafternoons in person 🎨

Pay what you feel- all proceeds to go to XCHC!

Here lies an aching body

A bleeding heart

Zealous for creation

Expert at mourning things lost and taken

Living for the room to thrive and forget

Creating for creation’s sake

A healing reprieve for the mind

Made to see what is felt

Pleased at the surprise

$80 hazyhappiness@gmail.com

Etsy

“Inspired by wallpaper themes and the symptom of homesickness as a result of the pandemic.”

Pencil on paper

$450

larakin2c@hotmail.com

Instagram

“My name is Pilar and I’m from Chile.

I started to paint over the past year while travelling. I discovered this whole new watercolour world and I love it. So this piece is named “Hummingbird Eye”. Hopefully it’ll stay in this beautiful city.”

“This relief print was created during level four lockdown,carved into a chopping board as a makeshift woodblock. It features the Ferrymead Heritage Park Print Shop.”

$30

Olivia is a Christchurch-based artist in her last year of study at Ara Polytechnic.

Instagram

“This piece is one of about twenty-five unique hoods constructed during rahui while watching nature documentaries when I wasn't teaching or gigging.

The intent is that each one should encapsulate an aspect of the wearer's personality and draw people in like a magnet. If you wear one, prepare to be admired and have conversations. Go forth and be fluffy!” (4-6 hours work in each hood)

$115

“Contemporary poi of the magic variety, made from foraged and second-hand materials.

If you would like some poi to suit your own colourful creative flow, let me know.”

“Heart of gold artwork was inspired by seeing all the courageous people that emerged in isolation.

Sometimes it takes a negative to Bring out the positive in humanity. 

I added in the flowers in because for me that represents the beauty in people who do have such a kind heart.”

$30

“Robbi Carvalho is an architect, jewellery designer and illustrator.

Exploring different art paths is her challenge and delight. The female universe and nature guides her work, and invites you to a meditative dive. An encounter with your intuition and more subtle energies.

“Foot in the sand, on the ground, on the rock”. Bathing in the sea and river. Contemplating nature and feeling part of it nourishes my life and art”.

Robbi Carvalho is Brazilian and chose New Zealand as her home. It is the landscapes of Aotearoa that feed her soul.”

$160

Broken safety glass mosaic on ply- glass rescued from Waters Edge apartment block, Ferrymead following Christchurch earthquakes prior to building demolition.

Created in week 2 of covid-19 level 4 lockdown.

“Whilst reestablishing my creative practise during lock down, I focused on making for the sake of making.

This panel was an experiment of using linocut printmaking, combined with fabric paint mediums and hand stitching to finish. This new process has inspired me to create more panels to add to jackets for friends and family and to accept commissions for future designs.”

The Art Breakers

Stitching, drawing, mixed media on recycled paper, labels, deconstructed card and rice paper Created during 2020 Covid-19 lockdown

$65

shelle_vee@hotmail.com

“This was my day 8 drawing to a 30 day art challenge I participated in during quarantine.

In this piece I wanted to explore an individual’s fear of being perceived as weird by the people around them, the feelings of wanting to feel invisible and blending in to society to not stand out and gain attention. 

The bright ink dripping down onto the umbrella represent the individual’s unique personality and creativeness, they turn black as the personality is dulled by the individual trying to fit into the societal norm and finally dripping on to the ground as they ultimately show just their bland surface personality, hiding under the umbrella which is the barrier, rejecting their true bright colours and quirkiness.”

“During lockdown I embarked on a journey to learn to make inks from plants.

During level 4 we were unable to purchase any art materials - so this was a way to get creative using the resources around me, including weeds, native plants and food scraps. The works in this exhibition include inks made from avocado stones, onion skins, flowers, eucalyptus and harakeke pods. Soda ash and iron have been used to modify the inks to create different colours. 

These are made from “living inks”, so over time their colours may fade/darken/change. If you are purchasing one of these works please be aware of this- and make sure to display them away from direct sunlight to reduce the risk of fading.”

$25

wildfelt.art@gmail.com

Instagram

“This one is for fans of Mandrian’s Brooklyn Boogie-Woogie!”

A model of the house we were in during lockdown.

"The challenges of the lock down inspired this work titled "Watchful". 

Isolation allows time for reflection and contemplation. This work aims to project the feeling of life passing before our eyes, living in our mind, not experiencing any stimulation from outside our bubble."

Acrylic on canvas, $350

struanmcgregor.artist@gmail.com

“Writing with my non dominant hand felt a bit like quarantine...

…slightly uncomfortable, not the prettiest presentation of myself, and a practice of rewiring my brain. Expressing my heartache and gratitude for this experience through this love letter... for the aching confusions of self definition, falling in love & embracing impermanence.”