"How did the brooch alter your experience of the city?"

After their adventures, participants are asked "How did the brooch alter your experience of the city?"

Here are some of their written responses:

"It made us stand up and take notice. We were more aware of our surroundings and what was going on around us. It made it exciting and fun to return to this part of the city. We observed some buildings that are no more but found beauty still in these areas.  We really relished, stopping, taking our time and observing. It helped us remember and move forward."

"I found myself looking at different things. Looking at details of things rather than just focusing on all the broken buildings. I became more observant around the clean-up of the CBD and realised how much is still fenced off and out of bounds".

"It made me think about the broken down buildings and making jewellery out of the broken materials. You can make it out  of pipes and you can still look beautiful. it's really cool what you can make out of just pipes and wood and leaves. Ruby (8)."


"On the is expedition with the brooch it seemed like taking it back where it belonged - to the treasured old gems of the city which are now mostly rubble. Seeing landmarks (eg Old Christchurch Girls High School) which have been removed - just a hole in the ground made the tears flow. But it also felt like a reclaiming of the territory - the brooch was part of the old city and on the brink of the new. Being part of an Art project, felt just right - the brooch is an expression of both the loss and resurrection, hope for the future,. We need more art in the city right now. It fitted well also in an ultramodern lunch venue. Just as it did in the old precincts."

"We certainly became more observant of the smaller things - the more positive things.  Great as a family to re-familiarise ourselves with a city that has changed in so many ways".


"ended up looking at the small details and the synergy that keep(sic) appearing with shapes, layers and twisting, reflections, detritus. Unnatural attraction to the aluminium legs of signage. Kept seeing birdnests of mangled scaffolding - giant rubble brooches."


"The architectural nature of the forms made me kind of hyper-aware of other similar forms and materials. So while I felt the brooch itself drew me to more mechanical/structural elements, I felt compelled to introduce the birch to more natural and fluid forms - the botanical gardens and the Earth From Above exhibition."


"No 13 full of surprises. Seeking sunlight then the shade of the fern house. Then he pined for plastic barricading after a "Peace" encounter"

"The woodsy nature of the material drew us to the woody spaces of the botanical gardens. Got us into the deal of the light and shade of spaces. Tangled tree forms easily merged together to create unique views."

"I'm unsure of the altering of my experience of the city through the brooch, but I have really enjoyed just wandering around and relaxing wearing this beautiful object. I spend so much time thinking about the city and all the implications of the earthquake and I have taken so many photos in the last few months. While wandering around today I spent more time thinking about how generous your art project is and how enriching it is to have someone like you Jacqui doing what you are doing, Thank you."