SCAPE Season 2023: Priscilla Rose Howe

Every year SCAPE produces an annual season of public art, this year running for twelve weeks between Saturday 25 November 2023 - Saturday 17 February 2024. This year eight contemporary artists will be supported to create new outdoor artworks in central Ōtautahi Christchurch that respond to their sites and to the curatorial theme The Gift, which has been proposed by new Managing Curator, Tyson Campbell (Te Rarawa/ Ngāti Maniapoto).

One of these artists for 2023 is Priscilla Rose Howe, an artist based in Ōtautahi. Predominantly using drawing materials, Howe explores ideas around queerness, phenomenology and the supernatural within domestic and public settings. Her works suggest a space that is at once magical and worldly, grotesque, and desire-filled. Recent exhibitions include Backdirt, Physics Room (2023), Banquet, The Art Paper, 31 Lorne St, Tāmaki Makaurau, (2023); Green Lipped; Jhana Millers Gallery, Te Whanganui-a-Tara (2022); The Person (with Alex Laurie and Tom Tuke), Coastal Signs, Tāmaki Makaurau (2022); and Cruel Optimism: New artists show, Artspace Aotearoa, Tāmaki Makaurau (2021).

With the support of the BOOSTED community, we want to make sure we have the resources we need to support Priscilla and amplify her work in public space. As our 2023 Community-engaged artist, Priscilla will also be working with our Education Manager to create and deliver free education and wellbeing programmes that will take place in Tūranga Christchurch City Libraries and in schools and community organisations across the city. As part of these programmes, SCAPE also provides support to students and schools in low decile areas by supporting their travel into the city or by visiting their students in the classroom.

Everyone at SCAPE Public Art is grateful for the support of Boost Ōtautahi and their supporters, with every dollar raised through this campaign up to $5,000 being matched by an additional dollar from Boost Ōtautahi. Whatever contribution you are able to make to our campaign will be thankfully received: we hope you will join the SCAPE community on our journey in 2023.

ABOUT SCAPE PUBLIC ART

An Ōtautahi Christchurch arts success story, SCAPE Public Art is the most prolific producer of new contemporary works of public art in New Zealand and an expert in the installation of public art. Over the past 25 years, SCAPE has brought together complex public art projects through well-established and successful collaborative partnerships that combine art and industry. In addition to 16 permanent legacy public artworks, SCAPE has supported more than 250 contemporary artists to produce artworks that the organisation has displayed in public spaces in Christchurch. A registered charity, SCAPE has consistently achieved local and national critical acclaim for their public art seasons, and enjoys audiences of over 500,000 people annually.