A SNEAK PREVIEW

Host A Brooch brooches (2011) by Jacqui Chan. Photography Jeremy Dillon + Jacqui Chan.

From Friday (26th), you can host one of these brooches on an urban adventure around Christchurch. Each of brooches have been crafted from materials diverted from the city's demolition processes. The idea to see how these bits of the city, attached to our bodies, might alter the way we experience, engage or think about the city. The idea is not to memorialise the devastating events that have taken place, but to test ways of reactivating and reoccupying the city.

Remember your camera (a snap camera or phone is easiest) and comfortable shoes.
For more info see How To Take Part

THE BROOCHES IN ACTION

Thanks Action Scaffolding!

Today's brooch was most appropriate for the icy conditions:

WARMING UP FOR THE LAUNCH

Join us for the launch of Host A Brooch on Friday 26th August, 4.30-7pm.

For a copy of the media release click here.

THE FIRST EXPEDITION

Reimagining the city in front of Ash Keating's Gardensity project, outside Christchurch City Art Gallery.

Yesterday we lucky-dipped to see which of the sixteen brooches would go on the first test drive....  Braving an icy Christchurch afternoon, rugged up in our puffa jackets, we set off on our first urban adventures. Coincidently, both of us selected brooches we were less attracted to. These drew attention to different aspects of our surroundings than our favourite brooches would have.

Click here for more photos on the Host A Brooch facebook page.

Come along and have your own urban adventure.

ABOUT HOST A BROOCH

Host A Brooch is a jewellery exhibition with a twist.

The project transforms urban debris into wearable artworks and explores how these work in the world. The public are invited to 'host' a brooch on an excursion through the city to see how it activates connections with their surroundings. 

The Host A Brooch 'depot' is located in a converted shipping container. Operating like a bike-sharing system, the public are invited to 'host a brooch' on an urban adventure. Just as a bicycle transforms our experience of a city – producing new sensory experiences, routes and encounters - jewellery also alters how we encounter a city.

Walking around the city, the body becomes the vehicle for a mobile intervention. The brooches claim a prominent position on the body, demanding attention and provoking conversation. As remnants of the city, they also draw attention to overlooked aspects of one’s surroundings, evoking material histories and connecting us with the material ecology of the city. 

Taking part, the goal is to wander the streets aimlessly. See where the brooch takes you. See what happens  - like a Situationist psycho-geography. On your adventures, take photos showing how the brooch connects you to your surroundings. 

Over the six weekends, each brooch is worn by multiple people, resulting in a myriad of different experiences. Wearers are asked to document their experiences with photos and notes. These accumulate in the exhibition, becoming a cartography of these jewellery-led adventures.

Host A Brooch is one of many projects that are currently exploring ways of reinvigorating Christchurch city through the arts. Although architectural and infrastructural change will take time, the arts can respond more immediately to reinject life into the city.

A catalogue will be produced to document the project.
Contact us (hostabrooch@gmail.com) to request a copy.