Exclusive invitation to celebrate the recently launched Otago Fonebook 1.
By Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature | Posted:
Creative Cities Southern Hui are thrilled to offer this exclusive invitation to our delegates.
Join us for a special ‘delegates only’ launch of the Otago Fonebook I by Michelle Chalklin-Sinclair and Judith Cullen.
- Artist’s Room Fine Art Gallery
2 Dowling Street, Dunedin
Thursday 30th November, 5:30-7:30pm.
The Otago Fonebook I follows the success of the Dunedin Fonebook, a compact coffee-table-style book brimming with stunning images of Dunedin, mouth-watering recipes and a rich tapestry of work by local artists. With the same investment of spirit and passion as the first publication, the Otago Fonebook I looks set to be just as popular locally and globally!
Melanie Kidd, the Creative Cities Southern Hui coordinator, chats with Michelle Chalklin-Sinclair about the inspiration behind the project.
Art guru and photographer, Michelle Chalklin-Sinclair and culinary cuisine chef and tour guide, Judith Cullen, both share a love for Dunedin’s scenery, creative community and sense of place. Inspired by small souvenir books that Judith collected on her travels, and motivated by the love of their ‘home’, they created the Dunedin Fonebook. All the photographs are skillfully taken by Michelle on her phone, like a real insider’s eye on the best kept secrets of Dunedin.
‘The Dunedin Fonebook received attention from literally ALL over the world. We were sending the book to all four corners of the planet as well as all over New Zealand. People with all sorts of connections to this lovely city came forward. This way they could still have a little bit of Dunedin in their everyday lives.’
After the success of the first publication Michelle and Judith were keen to look just outside of Dunedin, showcasing a broader view of the place they call ‘home’. This inspired them to create the Otago Fonebook 1.
‘Judith and I really wanted to look just outside of Dunedin. Gorgeous wee towns like Oamaru, Heriot, Kelso and Lawrence. Those areas that people often drive through or perhaps even forget about.’
For Michelle and Judith, Dunedin’s UNESCO City of Literature status has validated the creatively collaborative nature of the city, and the value of creative projects such as their own. Michelle believes the Creative Cities Southern Hui will connect Dunedin with the rest of the world.
‘The Hui is an exciting opportunity for Dunedin, once again we can promote our arts and culture to people that may never have been here before. There is so much to see and do in this city!’
Michelle and Judith have kindly arranged a special launch of the Otago Fonebook I in honour of the Creative Cities Southern Hui.
During the launch, you are invited to view new oil paintings by highly regarded New Zealand artist, Sam Foley. Sam’s current show, ‘Dowling Street’, features ten large scale paintings of architecture from the ‘arts quarter’ of Dunedin. Sam was one of the five artists that featured in the publication of the Dunedin Fonebook.
Michelle, Judith and Sam will all be present at the event, to talk about their projects and sign books.
The Creative Cities Southern Hui is a multiple day collaborative event, generously sponsored by the NZ National Commission for UNESCO and in partnership with the University of Otago’s Centre for the Book, offering talks and workshops around the themes of creativity, connection and collaboration.
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