A 10-foot-tall cowgirl and a 20-metre-long inflatable whale are just two of the 33 light installations that will spread across the CBD during Te Ramaroa next month.
Te Ramaroa, formerly Light Nelson, will this year expand from its former location at Queens Gardens to include installations all over the city.
Project manager Sophie Kelly says the biennial festival, which was postponed last year due to Covid-19, had outgrown the space at Queens Gardens and the name change provided an opportunity to shift directions, which included expanding the footprint of the light festival.
“One of the key areas will be around the Cathedral Hill, utilising lots of different pockets of the area, including the steps and 1903, and spreading down into upper Trafalgar St,” says Sophie.
She says a performance precinct in the area will offer a community stage, music and roving performers, including aerial dancer Chloe Loftus and contemporary dancer Rodney Bell.
A food hub will be located at Kirby Lane with light installations through Old Bank Lane, Morrison Square, NMIT’s Arts and Media building and the Masonic Temple.
“This year it’s much more about discovery as opposed to having a dedicated route. It might be something you want to do over a couple of nights, but actually you can just go in any direction and there is no entry or exit anywhere,” says Sophie.
Flame Daisy owner Anthony Genet will have his piece ‘Sweet Jane’ installed as part of the festival.
Anthony says, the 10-foot cowgirl was inspired by the death of a close friend he had known for 27 years.
She was created two years ago with the help of fellow artist Adrian Tuckwell and took about three months to construct, seven weeks of which was full-time work.
With the delay from Covid, she suffered some damage while in storage, which has now been repaired.
“She’s 10-feet tall but not quite bullet proof,” says Anthony.
You will be able to find Sweet Jane in the grounds of the Christ Church Cathedral during Te Ramaroa which runs from 9-13 July between 5.30-9.30pm.
