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Joel Hart; graphic designer; 2011; New Zealand
Overview
This digital poster was created by the University of Canterbury Students' Association to advertise a music gig staged in April 2011 to say thank you to all the 'unknown shovelers of the Student Volunteer Army'.
The imagery cleverly mines heroic and war poster design, with its triumphant student on an upturned wheelbarrow, with many wheelbarrows flying proudly in formation behind him. Fellow students raise their spades and rake in triumph below him. The poster is imbued with the signature green of the Student Volunteer Army - a glowing beautiful colour in combat with the grey and brown silt and mess of earthquake debris.
The Student Volunteer Army began on 6 September 2010 to help cleanup after the first Canterbury earthquake on 4 September 2010 and continued their work after the devastating earthquake of 22 February 2011, the further aftershock of 13 June, and subsequent heavy snowfalls of winter. The students helped clear silt from Christchurch properties and brought much needed support and cheer to inhabitants, particularly the elderly.