New exhibition and artworks mark full reopening of the Christchurch Art Gallery

A new pop art exhibition and public artwork have been revealed as part of the complete reopening of the Christchurch Art Gallery.

The gallery officially reopened in December after nearly five years of closure, but not all the exhibition spaces were ready.

However, the past weekend marked the first time all the exhibition spaces have been open to the public since the gallery was closed by the February 2011 earthquakes.

The complete reopening was celebrated with Tangle, the creation of a colourful and fun artwork, on the gallery's forecourt.

Tangle is an art installation created by members of the public over four days - with children and families helping create the artwork by weaving coloured elastic between tall poles until a bright and chaotic art installation has come to life.

The artwork, presented by Australian art group Polyglot Theatre, was created over eight free sessions from Friday to Monday.

A new exhibition of pop art also opened, with work on display by artists like Andy Warhol, Gordon Walters, Carl Sydow and Julian Dashper. The exhibition, called Op & Pop, examines the influence of two twentieth century art movements on New Zealand.

Christchurch Art Gallery Director Jenny Harper said more than 83,000 people had visited the gallery since the reopening in December.

Harper stated "we are absolutely thrilled to be open again and doing what we are here to do.

"This is what we have been waiting for."

When the gallery reopened on 19th December, it attracted 10,000 visitors in its first weekend.

The whole gallery has been given over to displaying works from the city's collection for the first time since the building first opened in 2003.

With the Canterbury region set to mark the fifth anniversary of the February 2011 earthquake on Monday 22nd February, the city suffered a further earthquake event on Sunday.

For more information go to www.christchurchartgallery.org.nz

Image: Tangle at the Christchurch Art Gallery.

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