Catalogue, 'Host A Brooch'

This catalogue documents the 'Host A Brooch' project in Christchurch which ran from 26 August to 1 October 2011.

Host A Brooch took jewellery out of the gallery and into the streets. It was part of contemporary jeweller Jacqui Chan's PhD research into the relationship between jewellery and the urban environment. Her work was originally intended for The National gallery which was compromised by the devastating Canterbury earthquake of 22 February 2011. In response, the Host A Brooch concept developed. It operated from a shipping container (a typical solution to temporary accommodation in Christchurch), using jewellery to engage with the city in expeditions rather than exhibitions.

16 brooches were created by Jacqui Chan from materials gathered around Christchurch. Members of the public were then invited to 'host a brooch' on an excursion around the city for two hours. Wherever they went and whomever they met, the wearers took photographs and recorded how the brooch drew attention to their surroundings. The key question they had to answer was 'how did the brooch alter your experience of the city?' Their adventures and thoughts were displayed in the container, with selections published in this catalogue.