First Thursdays Paper Scissors Rock n' Roll

First Thursdays in Sydenham 4 June

First Thursdays returns to Sydenham in Christchurch for an evening of art, live music, markets, exhibitions, interventions and performance. Paper Scissors, Rock n' Roll follows the success of First Thursdays - Lost in Space on 5 February and First Thursdays - Stars of Sydenham 2 October in 2014. More than 10,000 visitors have attended First Thursdays in Sydenham and more than 60 artists have participated.

Paper Scissors Rock n' Roll will include window installations in retail outlets, pop up exhibitions in furniture and music stores, portrait painting, life drawing, performance, skateboard art and animated projects.

In a recent survey of visitors to First Thursdays, one person commented that "one of those very special things happening around Christchurch - absolutely fantastic!!" We are once again aiming to fulfil such expectations with Paper Scissors Rock n' Roll through the inclusion of new events and exhibitions. Proposed highlights include:

� Artist Tara Douglas, bringing together origami and sculpture to create a brand new site specific large-scale installation using paper in the window of Sydenham retailer, Anna Stratton, inspired by Japanese concepts of joy and happiness.

� An animated window projection by artist Julia Holden, to be located in a retail outlet, The Beer Library on Colombo Street. 'The Philosopher' is a short film constructed from 776 paintings by the artist, inviting commentary on Western traditions of painting, its content and processes.

� Artist Jon Jeet will set up his easel in Brush n' Palette, completing a series of portraits, inviting the public to be one of his subjects for his painting and as part of an exhibition in the making in Sydenham.

� Life drawing classes with Dr Sketchy's anti - art school. Artist and one of the founders of Dr. Sketchy's in Christchurch, Audrey Baldwin will hold an evening life drawing class for beginners and practicing artists with accompanying drinking and drawing.

� Visiting Auckland artists Chippy and Dirk will take up residency for the evening in Embassy in Sydenham, designing and painting skate boards with an accompanying exhibition of their work - prints and works on paper.

� Pasted. A pop up exhibition of collage by artists from throughout New Zealand installed in Mainland Furniture on Colombo Street - a maze of spaces and rooms ideally suited to encourage visitors to wander and discover more than 150 collage works of art.

� Fashion designer and street artist Nathan Ingram pastes up a series of works on a public space on Colombo Street. Presenting new works completed for the evening of First Thursdays Paper Scissors Rock n' Roll, Ingram maintains his profile for creating innovative street art.

All these events represent an important contribution to the energy and quality of First Thursdays. $3,000 is sought for artists' fees, materials, travel, and accommodation expenses to ensure that they take place. Join with us in delivering an arts event in which the wider community and artists are brought together for a unique evening of arts and entertainment in Sydenham's retail and business precinct.

Click here to see the photos from the last First Thursdays.