More than 1,000 Wellington schoolchildren had their artwork displayed across three Newtown venues last week, with pupils taking on the roles of artists, exhibition designers and curators.
The exhibition, called CASTOMANIAC, ran from 5 to 11 October at Rice Pudding, Artists 24.7 and Subculture. It brought together work by children from Northland, Te Aro, Lyall Bay, St Patrick’s and Holy Cross schools.
Inspired by British artist Cornelia Parker, the children explored how ordinary objects could be taken apart, transformed and given new meaning through sculpture.
Some creations were small enough to fit inside matchboxes, while others involved suspended objects, light and installations made from familiar materials.
At Rice Pudding, on Constable Street, sculptures by 890 young artists were brought together in an exhibition exploring the personal significance of everyday objects.
The children were asked to consider a simple question: “What is the most significant thing you’ve collected that fits in your hand?”
Their responses became the starting point for artworks that visitors could explore, including miniature sculptures hidden inside matchboxes that could be opened to reveal their contents.
Further along Riddiford Street, Northland School pupils presented an exhibition at Artists 24.7 that explored the process of making art, including experiments, remakes and unsuccessful attempts alongside completed sculptures.
A third exhibition took the form of a window display at Subculture, bringing the children’s artwork into another part of Newtown’s shopping area.
The project went beyond giving children an opportunity to exhibit their work. Pupils were also involved in curating and designing the displays, while some children and their caregivers took responsibility for welcoming visitors and explaining the artworks.
This gave the young artists a direct role in deciding how their work would be presented to the public, rather than simply making sculptures for adults to arrange.
The project was supported by City Gallery Wellington and developed in partnership with Newtown Heart, with funding support from the TG Macarthy Trust and Hynds Foundation.
CASTOMANIAC also formed part of the celebrations surrounding the reopening of City Gallery Wellington at Te Ngākau Civic Square on 10 October, following renovation and strengthening work.
The gallery reopened with a major exhibition by Parker, whose internationally recognised sculptures and installations frequently involve breaking, crushing, suspending and reconstructing everyday objects.
Her exhibition, the first solo public gallery presentation of her work in New Zealand, features more than 50 artworks and runs until 7 March 2027.
For the Wellington schoolchildren involved in CASTOMANIAC, the project provided an opportunity to have their artwork exhibited in public galleries alongside the city’s wider contemporary arts programme.
