Send a Little Guerrilla Kindness to Christchurch
Melbourne Sayraphim Lothian's latest project involves Christchurch, kindness and a whole lot of little green birds
Melbourne artist Sayraphim Lothian doesn't make art that hangs on walls in galleries. You're more likely to find her work hiding in a tree, resting on a bench or nestled under a bush. She likes to leave people little gifts, just to make their day that little bit more special and fun.
This March Sayraphim Lothian is taking a Journey for her latest project; guerrilla kindness for Christchurch. Journey - The Kakapo of Christchurch is a two week public art project that uses the Kakapo's journey to recovery as a metaphor for Christchurch's journey to regeneration.
The Kakapo is the world's heaviest, flightless parrot and we can proudly claim it as our own. However, letting the population dwindle to a mere 18 in the 70s is not something to be quite so proud of. Since then, the Kakapo has been on its own journey of healing thanks to conservation group Kakapo Recovery. Even though the Kakapo is still endangered, there are now there are 124 birds alive and well in the wild.
From the 13 - 23 of March 2014, the artist will travel to Christchurch to install 124 soft sculpture Kakapos around the city. These birds will be left for people to find and move, hide, remove, adopt or throw away. Part participatory art project, part game, part scavenger hunt and part social media check in, Journey invites people to get involved with an art project on a personal level.
Each soft sculpture bird will have a tag attached, introducing it to the finder as well as having Journey's website address to provide more information about the project. There will also be a hashtag for social media so people can follow the Kakapo's journey around the city.
Sayraphim Lothian says ,"I want to do this project to celebrate the resilience and unity of the people of Christchurch after the earthquakes and the recovery of the Kakapo from near extinction. Neither of these things could have happened without the resourcefulness and kindness of the people involved."
You can help make this project happen by contributing your own act of guerrilla kindness. In exchange for your pledge you will receive a reward, including your very own handmade Christchurch Kakapo.
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