Outside Art

We're TRYING to create a little slice of Melbourne in Christchurch - in developing the back lanes that run off Lichfield, High and Manchester Streets. Once a tangle of back alleys that gave access to hefty brick factories and old shops, both areas have been re-developed to include cafes, bars, restaurants and boutique shops. It's not quite Melbourne. For one thing it's only a tiny area by comparison; but I like the way that both areas - SOL and Poplar Lanes - have encouraged the spread of graffiti, street art and whacky creations. It's a stretch to call some of it art but at least it's on the right track.

I was wandering through Poplar Lanes last weekend and was delighted to see the brick walls outside Vespa Cafe (near the French Farmers' Market - featuring here tomorrow), have been adorned with someone's artwork. I like the injection of colour and visual interest. Just a pity they haven't labelled the works with the artist's name; I for one, would like to know more.

New Inner City Street Art

I roamed around town for three hours this morning, making the most of the return of fine weather - enjoying taking photos of new signs, posters, shop windows and the like. It's amazing how quickly change takes place in a city and I have a number of places I frequent for that very reason. One of them is Manchester Street - always slightly shabby and interesting, always changing. I noticed these new doors on a fish and chip shop there. They've obviously commissioned a street artist to create a lively, in-context approach for their business. I like that. I like too, that increasing numbers of businesses are hiring graffiti artists to give their premises - and even their vehicles a distinctive look. You'll find the same thing happening in SOL Square (South of Lichfield), which probably started 'the legitimising of street art' in Christchurch. The developers there hired graffiti artists from Auckland right back when they opened about three years ago, and the place is a visual feast of colour and chaos. This is a new work that has been created on one of the lane walls just this last week. I'm all for it. Good street art gives the inner city character and imbues dark alleys with colour. What can be wrong with that?

Up the Wall

This is what happens when you drink too much French Champagne

Jan 2009 SOL Square, Christchurch. Ajr

In the Pink

SOL Square, Christchurch. April 3009. Ajr

Gorgeous Autumn Morning

Couldn't Resist All That Pink

MINX @ SOL

City Graphics

SOL, Christchurch. March 2009. Ajr

One of my favourite inner city poster walls is looking particularly bright and interesting this week. This is one of the walls in SOL Square.

In the Pink

Minx, SOL, Christchurch. Feb.2009. Ajr

What was one of my favourite restaurants (primarily for its zany, creative décor) has re-invented itself. Minx Dining Room and Bar seems to have become just Minx Bar – and it’s also become very very PINK! Located in SOL off Lichfield Street, they now also claim to serve “just pink drinks.” I took these shots last Saturday morning; I think it looks better at night – when all the pink becomes even PINKER!

Back Alley Business

SOL, Christchurch. Feb 2009 Ajr

This is one of my favourite poster walls. I re-visit it frequently for an ever-changing display of colourful poster graphics. LOVE IT! www.sol.net.nz

French Corner

SOL, Christchurch. Feb 2009 Ajr

The Champagne Bar

in SOL www.sol.net.nz

New Year's Eve in Lights

I'm going to usher in the New Year with a complete lack of restraint by showing of a series of photographs I took last night at (and near) SOL (South of Lichfield) - one of the city's central party scenes. From the balloons and brights lights of the party pill shop (above) to the crowds gathered in the bars at SOL, it was all go.

The Bright Lights

Win Me Over

Every Time

Happy New Year

2009

Happy New Year

All For a Photograph!

Staircase, SOL, Christchurch. Dec. 2008. Ajr

I was so taken with this staircase, and so keen to check out the right angle for a photograph, that I failed to watch my footing and fell flat on my face in the street! Thankfully, it was down a back lane in SOL (South of Lichfield) and the only people who witnessed my humiliation were a cafe worker hanging about having a sly fag and a young Chinese couple, who ran to my aid and helped me up - ego bruised, ankle twisted but otherwise no worse for the wear. Turns out taking photographs can be a hazardous business. www.sol.co.nz

City Graphics

SOL Square. Oct 2008. Ajr

I love this tumble of graphics and imagery in SOL Square - posters competing with city signs.

On Yer Bike

SOL Square, Christchurch. Oct 2008. Ajr This is what happens when you drink too much Moet & Chandon!

The creative team at SOL Square have gone a tiny bit nuts - and I like it.

That said, this popular 'backstreet alley' filled with trendy new bars has just about peaked in creative design terms. If they put too much else in there it's going to start looking like a sideshow alley. www.sol.net.nz

For the Bar-Flies

Fish & Chip Bar, SOL, Christchurch The Fish & Chip Bar in SOL (South of Lichfield) is all about mood and memorabilia. Anyone who grew up in the era of 6 O'Clock closing, red plastic tomato sauce holders and Edmonds baking powder tins will feel right at home here.

Graffiti Alley

Centre Place, Melbourne, Australia. 2007. Ajr

I was sorting through my Melbourne photo files this morning and came upon this one. This is Centre Place in central Melbourne, an exciting alley filled with cafes, people and fabulous graffiti - graffiti that is appreciated. It's trendy, popular and virtually a tourist attraction in its own right and it's photographed by hundreds of people every week. In Christchurch we have hints of this in the SOL lanes but there is potential for so much more. Instead of purifying our inner cities we should be encouraging creativity and character, especially in the older areas. I wonder why it is that people are 'afraid' of graffiti. It's a bit like seeing someone with a tattoo - far too often uninformed judgements are made about the perpetrators of both.

It's All Happening...........

Christchurch - Two Views; Pix Supplied.

In Christchurch

Everything from the usual madness and good times of the SOL Square bars (lower image).

To the busy programme of events in this year's Body Festival of Dance & Physical Theatre, which is now underway in several city venues.

Fish and Chips Please!

The Fish and Chip Shop, SOL Square, Christchurch. July 2008. Ajr.

The good old Kiwi tradition of fish and chips wrapped in newspaper is alive and well at The Fish and Chip Shop in Christchurch’s SOL Square. From the Edmonds Baking Powder tins adapted to become light fittings over the downstairs bar and the stairwell filled with memorabilia and old photographs to the upstairs Formica dining tables and the old red tomato sauce dispensers, it’s a totally giddy wander down memory lane. I love the place. And if you’re in the mood to eat, there is of course, fish and chips; or you could indulge in a roast dinner finished off with pavlova. Completely quirky and riddled with Kiwiana, it makes a change from super-slick minimalist design trends.

Bar Crawl

SOL Square, Christchurch. July 2008. Ajr

On a cold stormy night when any sensible person would have been tucked up at home beside a cosy fire, I chose to go out and prowl around bars – in a strictly professional manner of course. I joined a group of Australasian media and conference organisers, in Christchurch for NZ Meetings 2008, on a tour of Sol Square. It was pelting down with rain but Sol’s night lights were twinkling regardless as we did the rounds of Fat Eddies, The Fish and Chip Shop, Ishimoto, Yellowcross, La Petite Croix, Cleaners Only and The Culture Club – a fabulous bunch of unique bars that have colonised the historic buildings and lanes that make up SOL (South of Lichfield). There are ten very different restaurants and bars in close proximity here – everything from a Japanese Yakitori and Sake bar through to live jazz, a nostalgic reinvention of the iconic Kiwi fish and chip shop, live bands, a gorgeous romantic champagne bar and a dark, moody little retreat tucked into what was, literally, an old cleaning cupboard, albeit a rather large one. A pity about the weather but that’s winter for you! www.sol.net.nz.

Down Back Alleys

SOL, Christchurch. June 2008. Ajr

I caught this great little building reflection down a back alley off SOL Square a day or two ago.

When you look UP there is so much more to see.

In this case, a delightful intersection of architecture and building materials