Ara library, Christchurch campus will be closed on friday 1st December from 2:30-5pm for the end of year staff event. After hours access for students will operate during this time. The following week on friday 8th December Ara Timaru library will be closed from 2:30-5pm.
From 4th December 2017 Ara library will be accepting payments by eftpos only. Cash purchases have decreased with eftpos transactions becoming more popular amongst students. If you have any questions please email us at library@ara.ac.nz
Several people have asked me today in the City Campus Library, Madras Street:
The library will be upgrading some of its systems over the summer. We’re getting a new computer system for the librarians, and there will be an upgrade to the library catalogue, Primo. As part of this, existing links to Primo will stop working.
If you have items saved in your Primo e-shelf, and you’d like to keep using them after the summer, you will need to export your e-shelf contents via email. We’ve made some instructions on how to do this which you can download.
If you have any questions, please come in and see us, or contact the library.
Guest blog by Michael Armstrong (Art & Design tutor at Timaru Campus).
Arts and Media students studying with the Creative Faculty in Timaru are privileged to be exhibiting at the Aigantighe Art Gallery again this year. Students from all levels have their work in this exhibition.
The Aigantighe is Timaru’s highly regarded public art gallery, and the Polychrome Exhibition has been a feature and a highlight for the students and the supportive South Canterbury audience for a number of years. Digital art, photography, graphics, paintings, motion design work, sculpture, printmaking and drawing are all included in this diverse show. The works range from social commentary to advertising, landscape photography to contemporary and edgy experimental work. Tutors encourage all students to participate in this large group show, which has close to 90 works on display until 19 November, and takes up the main gallery space and the foyer.
Second year students work as a team to do much of the organising from the polytechnic end. They select works, design the invites and posters, organise printing and framing, cataloguing and advertising the exhibition as part of their studies. They experience some of the issues and the intensity that goes into exhibiting in a public space. All students get a huge benefit from the professionalism and expertise of the gallery staff in the hanging the show, and from the public exposure.
At the opening, Head of Department Tom Rainey, and Manager of Art and Design Bruce Russell attended. Bruce Russell spoke about the courses on offer at the Timaru campus in 2018. He also handed out several awards, including the 2017 Polychrome Awards to:
Philippa Wallace made the Samantha Wallace Award to Chrissie Hastie and Nicole Jones.
The Friends of the Aigantighe awarded their prize to Sam Sugrue.
The South Canterbury Art Society made their award to Jo Whitfort.
Polychrome 2017 is on at Aigantighe Art Gallery, Timaru, until 19th November.
For those of you at City Campus, make sure you check out Ripe (Art & Design Exhibition) next week from 21st of November – 1st December.
Ara Institute of Canterbury (Christchurch and Ashburton campuses only) will be closed on Friday 17th November as this is a public holiday for Canterbury. Take a break from your studies and immerse yourself in all things rural by heading to the Canterbury A&P show. Approximately 100,000 people visit the show which runs from 15th-17th November and there is something for everyone to enjoy eg; equestrian events, live music, carnival rides, woodchopping and livestock competitions.
http://www.nzcupandshow.co.nz/
If you would rather dress up in your finest attire and bet on horses then head to the Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup Day on Tuesday 14th November.
http://www.nzcupandshow.co.nz/events/christchurch-casino-nz-trotting-cup-day/
Our Timaru campus library has some new toys: 5 shiny new laptops.
The laptops can be borrowed by students to use in the library (sorry, you can’t take them to class) for 4 hours. They are connected to the Ara network, so you have access to the same files, programs, and printers you do on a desktop computer – but you can do it from the comfort of a beanbag, if you want.
Come in and see Afoa and borrow one today.
Now is the time to sort and cull my bulging messy wardrobe filled with winter coats.
The hot days are a good excuse to go shopping if only to buy just a couple of things to help me feel more summery and bright. Trying on togs and jeans in shops is the worst so maybe buying online is the better option, or op-shopping cos you never know what vintage gems you will find. It is good to have options when you angst about clothes, like me. A great way to sort out my scrabbled fashion mind is to attend a fashion show whenever I can and the clever fashion students at Ara are putting on their end of year runway show “Pitch” on November 25th, tickets sell out fast so get in quick.
https://www.ara.ac.nz/study-options/our-study-interest-areas/art-and-design/fashion/fashion-shows
Ara Library Blog 