Exhibition at Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū
10 June to 23 October
A collaborative exhibition showcasing taonga (treasures) from the historic – and very different – collections of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū and Canterbury Museum.
This unusual selection of rare, exquisite, extravagant – and even curiously ordinary – objects has been handpicked by curators from both institutions. On display are more than 100 taonga (treasures) from Aotearoa, Te Moana nui a Kiwa (the Pacific) and around the world.
Ship Nails and Tail Feathers combines functional objects, art and adornments, ideas and history. In combining the Gallery and Canterbury Museum collections, it provides a rare and rich experience for all curious visitors.
When brought together, objects from the Museum and lesser-known historical items from the Gallery's collection tell fascinating stories about how people lived and what they valued, provoking thought and discussion about what that might mean to us in the here and now.
Ship Nails and Tail Feathers is the perfect destination for visitors from Christchurch and beyond who are looking for a taste of the Canterbury Museum experience before the pop-up opens at CoCA in mid-2023.
Images: George Leslie, In the Wizard’s Garden c1904. Oil on canvas. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, presented to the Canterbury Society of Arts by Wolf Harris, 1907; given to the Gallery, 1932
Royal Doulton (Edward J Raby), Lidded vase with roses c1906. Glazed porcelain with gilded matt celadon cover.
Collection of Canterbury Museum