Place in Time: The Christchurch Documentary Project arises out of the School of Fine Arts at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. Its purpose is to make, facilitate and promote documentary work about a city and a cross-section of its people that might contribute towards an increased knowledge, perception, appreciation and tolerance of one another and our surrounding environment.
Place in Time was established in the year 2000 by former Senior Lecturer in Photography, Glenn Busch. Since that time, using photography, documentary writing and oral history text, we have produced, facilitated and overseen a multitude of exhibitions and books, as well as run education projects for primary and secondary schools based around exhibitions and archived content.
Since Busch’s retirement in 2018, Tim J. Veling has taken up the role of Place in Time’s Director, with Bridgit Anderson continuing her role as Archive and Education Manager. Dr. Barbara Garrie leads our public outreach and research initiatives.
This website and the maintaining of the Place in Time archive is done on a completely voluntery basis. Without the generous support of time by a number of very enthusiastic and dedicated people, Place in Time would simply not exist. Please get in touch if you would like to contribute in some way to the maintaining and promotion of the archive.
We are also extremely grateful for the generous support of the University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts for housing the archive and recognising the value of documentary work as a means of both artistic expression and critique and conscience of society.
Lastly, this website was built and our archive able to be expanded as a result of a considerable grant from the now disbanded New Zealand Centre of Photography. The NZCP was founded in 1985 by Brian Brake, Matheson Beaumont and Brian Enting as an organisation dedicated to showcasing the photographic medium to both New Zealand and the world. Place in Time is proud to continue in the Centre’s tradition and spirit.
Tim J. Veling is a photographer and senior lecturer in photography at the University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts, New Zealand. He is the director and primary administrator of the Place in Time archive.
Tim gained his MFA from the University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts in 2006, for which the project Reb Bus Diary formed his research thesis. Red Bus Diary was later published by Place in Time in conjunction with the University of Canterbury and Hazard Press, and exhibited as part of Platform Arts Festival, Christchurch, 2006.
Since then, Tim has undertaken a number of long-term projects that unpick aspects of the psychological, cultural and socio-political landscape. Broadly, his work is an ongoing investigation into concepts of home, belonging, place and time made visible through a subtle blending of the genres of fine art and documentary photography. His main modes of output are exhibitions and artist books.
Tim is currently engaged in a series of long-term projects relating to the aftermath of Christchurch’s devastating 2010 and 2011 earthquakes. He has exhibited and worked nationally and internationally and his prints are held in private and public collections.
Glenn Busch was the instigator of the Place In Time Project, which grew out of his own documentary practice, research and teaching within the University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts. Until his retirement in 2018, he held the position of Senior Lecturer in Photography within the school. He continues to be involved in all aspects of the Place in Time archive, and is spearheading the documentary writing and oral history section of this website.
Glenn is the author of four books; Working Men, You Are My Darling Zita, My Place and The Man With No Arms & other stories. His work is held in numerous public and private collections and he is widely regarded as one of New Zealand’s finest documentary portrait photographers and writers.
Bridgit Anderson was born in Christchurch and studied photography at the University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts. In 1985 she left for England where she taught in a series of London art schools, eventually returning to lecture at Ilam in 2004. Since then she has been a key figure in Place in Time: the Christchurch Documentary Project.
Anderson’s contributions to Place in Time include Caring for the dead (2005-06), in which she spent a year working closely with a Christchurch firm of funeral directors and with families who had recently been bereaved; and more recently a collaborative project to document the post-earthquake lives of residents in the suburb of Avonside culminating in Thx 4 the Memories, which was exhibited as part of the Christchurch Arts Festival 2013.
She has also created a photo-essay, Shigeru Ban: Cardboard Cathedral (2013), about the construction of the Christchurch landmark. Other projects include documenting the installation of Neil Dawson’s sculpture FANFARE for the publication by SCAPE Public Art FANFARE (2015) and a commission to create photographic portraits for the IHC touring exhibition Take a Moment With Us.
Anderson is currently the manager of Place in Time, responsible for its exhibition and education programme. She specialises in human-interest stories and related educational projects. Her work has been widely published and exhibited throughout New Zealand and internationally and examples of her work are held in the National Collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington.
Barbara Garrie is a Senior Lecturer in Art History and Theory at the University of Canterbury and a key member of the Place in Time team. She is responsible for public outreach and research initiatives, and has curated a number of shows from the archive that have been displayed in Christchurch city libraries, schools, outdoor, public spaces and galleries.
Barbara gained her PhD from the University of Canterbury in Art History and Theory in 2012. Her thesis was titled '(Dis)orientation: Identity, landscape and embodiment in the work of Roni Horn.' Her current research focuses on the intersection of art history and material culture, with a particular emphasis on aspects of contemporary art practice. This research has three developing but related threads: art & material culture in post-quake Christchurch; history and theory of the artist's book; and contemporary photography.
Haruhiko Sameshima is a photographer, publisher and educator living and working in Auckland, New Zealand. His landmark publication, Bold Centuries – a collage-like book made-up of his original photographs together with found historical images and texts that serves as an engaging and poetic introduction to Sameshima’s longstanding exploration of photography as myth – is widely considered one of the most significant bodies of work produced by a New Zealand photographer to date. Haruhiko is the founder and director of Rim Books, an independant publishing operation "based in a small city in a small country, relying on networks of regional and international artists and authors who project, preserve and foster the independent voice intended for a world-wide audience."
Emma Neal is a photographer originating from Masterton, New Zealand. Born in 1993, Emma has recently completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts (photography) in 2017 at the Ilam School of Fine Arts. Coming from a farming family, Emma has a strong connection to outdoors and the treatment of our natural environment.
Moana J Lee is based in Waitaha Canterbury and works with sustainable and plant-based photographic processes in a combination of documentary and fine art genres. Moana’s Master of Fine Arts Degree encompassed genealogy and ethnobotany tracing human trajectories as a way of exploring what it means to be tangata Tiriti under the current political climate.
Hanne Johnsen is a Norwegian photographer who gained her BFA at the University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts in 2003. On completion of her degree, she was commissioned for two years to photograph for disability support and advocacy group, CCS. Work created during this time resulted in the travelling exhibition My Name Is... and formed the photographic content of The Man With No Arms and Other Stories, a book written by Glenn Busch.
Currently based in Tromso, Norway, she has gone on to work extensively throughout Russia and Europe with funding from the Norwegian government and various NGOs. She has concentrated her attention on children and youth growing up under different social conditions. This work has resulted in her book Vekst i det vanskelige (Growing in Difficuilty) and the documentary film, White Crow.
Mitchell Bright is a photographer living in Canterbury, New Zealand. Born in 1994, he recently completed his MFA at the University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts.
Growing up he spent his time in Selwyn and the West Coast of the South Island. He addresses these areas in his work, frequently exploring them and documenting his findings, with a particular interest in the ways in which individuals and society view and interact with the landscape.
Bright’s practice delves into areas of fine art and documentary photography. Exhibiting in print form, which can be found in private collections around New Zealand, and also in engaging with photo-books as a medium of display and as record.
Uiga Bashford is a Christchurch based photographer. She gained her BFA(Hons) at the University of Canterbury in 2003. Her work is centered around home, autobiography and place, often investigating aspects of her Samoan-New Zealand heritage.
Uiga currently teaches art and photography at Burnside High School, Christchurch.
Bruce Connew is a photographer living in Auckland, New Zealand, and sometimes Paris.
His central projects have been shown as solo exhibitions in most public art galleries in New Zealand. A number of these projects are published as artist books and variations on the photobook. His work, both prints and artist books, is held in public and private collections in New Zealand and abroad.
‘My work does not come from orderly research. An idea emerges from an assortment of simmering propositions, components of things yet to be fashioned. With these elements in hand, I set off in pursuit of other evidence from which to construct meaning.’
Maria Buhrkuhl is a Christchurch based photographer. She gained an MFA through the University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts, 2005. Her work often centers around autobiographical themes, weaving elements of text and image together to build multi-levelled narratives. Her book ‘Ask Me to Dance’ was published by Place in Time and Dinard Press, Christchurch in 2008.
Maria currently teaches art and photography at St. Margaret’s College, Christchurch, alongside maintining a commercial photographic practice.
Blair Barclay is a photographer and designer. Born in Christchurch, he is currently living and working in Copenhagen, Denmark. He gained a BFA(Hons) in 2011, and a Diploma in Digital Media (Advanced) at ACG Yoobee School of Design, Christchurch.
Blair’s work has been shown at Fotofreo Festival, Australia and SoFA Gallery, Christchurch, and his artist book As the Road Bends was awarded Highly Commended for NZ Photobook of the Year, 2017.
Arabella Spoors is a Christchurch based photographer who completed her Honours in Photography at the University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts, 2017.
Growing up in Christchurch and spending much of her childhood in Banks Peninsula, Arabella’s work is predominantly documentary based and touches on themes such as genealogy and cultural identity.
Ellie Waters is a Christchurch based photographer. She emigrated to New Zealand from the UK as a teenager and her work is focused on themes of home, belonging, cultural identity, place and memory.
Ellie gained her BFA from the University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts in 2016 and is currently engaged in a long-term project about Lyttelton Harbour and Banks Peninsula, Canterbury.
Christine McFetridge is a New Zealand born photographer and writer based in Melbourne, Australia. Using an auto-ethnographic approach she aims to address social and environmental concerns, with a particular interest in understanding the relationship between people and place. Solo exhibitions include Citizens of the Park, Centre for Contemporary Photography (Melbourne, 2018) and The Winter Garden, Trocadero Art Space (Melbourne, 2017) and In Situ Photo Project (Christchurch, 2017). In 2018 The Winter Garden was published as a limited edition photobook by M.33 and Bad News Books. McFetridge is represented by M.33, Melbourne.
Hannah Watkinson is a Christchurch based photographer, arts advocate and co-ordinator. She gained her BFA(Hons) at the University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts in 2016, and in that same year established In Situ Photo Project, a fine art and documentary photography gallery exhibiting work by emerging artists alongside established New Zealand photographers.
Building on experience setting up In Situ within the new BNZ Centre in Christchurch’s CBD, Hannah went on to set up The Welder Collective artist studios and In Situ gallery, Welles Street, and more recently The Corner Store artist studio space and café, Cashel Street.
David Cook is a photographer and lecturer based at Massey University’s College of Creative Arts, Wellington. David's practice deals with themes of contested space, community and ecology. Major works / books include Lake of Coal (Potton & Burton), River Road (Rim Books) and Meet Me in the Sqare (Christchurch Art Gallery).
Dean Kozanic
Christopher Hooton
Mark Gore
Josephine Meachen
Elise Williams
Thomas Herman
Nicki Thorne
Sarah Laffan
Kirsty MacDonald
Chris Pownall
Siao Ping Ng
Siobhan Cox
Alexandra Keeman
Soo Ra Lee
Robin Hely
Arts Voice Canterbury University Press CCS Disability Action – Canterbury & West Coast Chambers Art Gallery Christchurch Arts Festival Christchurch City Council COCA: Centre of Contemporary Art Community Grants Foundation Creative New Zealand Dinard Press Duncan Cotterill Lawyers Harman & Co Hazard Press John Rhind Funeral Directors Jolly Poacher Kawhia Art Group The Lion Foundation MCB McConnell Dowell creative construction Nelson Finance Centre New Zealand Centre for Photography Pacific Arts Committee: Creative New Zealand Photo & Video International Platform Arts Festival Red Bus Ltd School of Fine Arts University of Canterbury Shoal Bay Press Sign Displays SOFA Gallery Strategy Design & Advertising The Christchurch Press The Canterbury Community Trust Todd Foundation University of Canterbury
Sponsors
and Contributors
Place in Time would like to thank the following sponsors and supporters without whose help much of what we have achieved would not have been possible.
Corporate
Arts Voice Canterbury University Press CCS Disability Action – Canterbury & West Coast Chambers Art Gallery Christchurch Arts Festival Christchurch City Council COCA: Centre of Contemporary Art Community Grants Foundation Creative New Zealand Dinard Press Duncan Cotterill Lawyers Harman & Co Hazard Press John Rhind Funeral Directors Jolly Poacher Kawhia Art Group The Lion Foundation MCB McConnell Dowell creative construction Nelson Finance Centre New Zealand Centre for Photography Pacific Arts Committee: Creative New Zealand Photo & Video International Platform Arts Festival Red Bus Ltd School of Fine Arts University of Canterbury Shoal Bay Press Sign Displays SOFA Gallery Strategy Design & Advertising The Christchurch Press The Canterbury Community Trust Todd Foundation University of Canterbury
Individuals
Geoff Aitken Trish Allen Sarah Amazinnia Peta Asomua Bruce Ansley Sally Ansley Jennifer Bailey Danny Bare Uiga Bashford Madeline Bass Podger Heather Barth Aaron Beehre Harold Berry Luit Bieringa Kevin Blogg Guy Boyce Ted Bracey Peter Bradley Greg Bramwell Henry Brown Maria Buhrkuhl Alan Bunce Karen Calder Helen Redmond Cameron Alan Cathro Professor Ursula Cheer Marie Chirnside Erica Collingwood Bruce Connew Roger Corbett Siobhan Cox Danielle Crawford Sofia Daly Bill de Friez Anastasia Del’Monte Maxine Donovan Rosemary Du Plessis Norma Dutton David Draper George Ehau Michael Elsworth David Elworthy Guy Evans Kezia Fairbrother Reverend Lapana Faletolu Fiona Farrell Warren Feeney Mary Ferguson Jeff Field Genevieve & Hamish Flynn Barbara Garrie Ib Glover Mark Gore Chris Gower Angela Gray Catherine Griffiths Mark Hacket Jessica Halliday Marianne Hargreaves Don Harkess Kalina Harmer Kate Hartnell Dave Heanley Robin Hely Ros Henry Naylor Hillary Jenny Rockel Lucy Holland Anna Holloway Christopher Hooton Nardine Horsburgh Rob Hungerford Elisabeth Ineson Peter Ireland Gina Irish Barbara Jamieson Helen Jefferies Melinda Johnston Paul & Jo Kaisa Melanie Karst Alexandra Keeman John Kent Jeanette, Barry & Pete King Richard King Pauline Knights Chrissy Kouwenhoven Dean Kozanic Sarah Laffan Ashlee Lala Holly Laughton Linda Lee Soo Ra Lee Neemia Leitu Angela Ai-Ling Long Anita Liu Kirtsy MacDonald Ashley Mackenzie Aimee MacMillan David Matthews Sue McCauley Alayne McLaren Manindertit Singh Sandhu Ruth McManus Andrea McSweeney Josephine Meachen Richard Mehrtens Hamish Meikle Dave Mitchell Katie Mitchell Leigh Monford Amanda Morris Naith Morrow Jessie Moss Tai Mulitalo Adele Naseri Sarah Newton Siao Ping Ng Georgette & Nick Nicholis David Nicholls Simon Ogden Ciara O’Callahan Pip O’Connell Jane Olsson Sister Pauline O'Reagen Nick Paris E. J. Parker Guy Pask Bruce Penno Yasoya & Noel Peters Jarg Pettinga Lucia Pfisterer Chris Pownall Jenny Rockel Steve Roome Cliff Rumph Liz Ryburn Teresa Scott Kose Seinafo Mary Sem Richard Sharaf Reverent Miao Shiu Mark Spurgeon Karen Stevenson Robyn Stewart Bill Straight Marilyn Stratford Pat Street Mark Stocker Ken Strongman Lucy Styles Alice Tappenden Pam Tauamiti Lio Tauan’u John B Turner Phillip Turner Todd Turner Greg & Sally Thomas Karen Thompson Paul Thompson Rychalo Thompson Philip Tremewan Dana van den Broek James Voller Cathie White Neville White Carla Wiersma Jill Wilcox Carole & Maurice Williams Defyd Williams Hilary Wilson Quentin Wilson Kathy Wilson Edna & Helen Yates