I mentioned a few days ago that I had contacted the city council about the photo exhibition on Courtenay Place. Enough information came back to justify an update.

First, Andy Palmer, the curator of the project, sent a letter to the editor to explain the light-boxes.

I admit there’s been little explanation about the work and why it’s there. I suggested that the “curator’s statement” be placed in the park somewhere, but it hasn’t happened. It is on Wellington City Council’s website, however.

With a name on hand, a quick search turned up a blog post that goes much further and gives a nice visual perspective of the new park.

Subsequently, my email prompted two replies from Wellington City Council. The first pointed me to a list of temporary art projects in the city, of which the Light Box Project is just one. The current display, “Flanerie and Figments” is set to finish in October. A second reply came from a city council manager, Martin Rodgers:

Responsibility for mounting future exhibitions has now transferred to the Council’s Public Art Panel which is a group of five external advisors plus Council officers. As Manager of the Council’s City Arts team, I am also Chair of this panel. We have issued invitations to galleries and curators inviting them to propose future curated exhibitions for the boxes. These may be photographic exhibitions or in other genres that fit the format of the boxes.

The Panel has set aside funding for future exhibitions. As you will appreciate, the costs of mounting an exhibition, including artists fees and the output of the works, can add up. At present the Panel has committed to funding two exhibitions a year. Your suggestion to source Creative New Zealand funding so that we can turn over the exhibitions more frequently is a good one which we will explore.

Personally, I can be satisfied with an interesting exhibition which lasts for 6 months. This may mean that more complaint letters are going hit the papers. That’s life. Not everyone will like any given piece. I’d rather have controversial images than boring images.

Aside from that, the other major complaint about Courtenay Place Park is the overwhelming rust-coloured theme that it presents. Yes, true, but the trees are starting to bud now – and the westernmost 6 are already very green. The park is going to look amazing once those trees splash a little life over the rust. It’ll soon be a photo opportunity for anyone willing to capture it.