It all came together in a rush, when Chloe Loftus needed a rehearsal space for her performance work, The Gathering Tide, to be performed as part of Nelson Arts Festival. We’re so pleased we could help. The Gathering Tide – a sunset event of collective joy. Tāhunanui Beach becomes the stage as internationally acclaimed local
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The old Bed, Bath & Beyond that fronted onto Montgomery Square has been empty for some time. Many thanks to the Thompson Property Group for letting us use it.
73 Rutherford St, Nelson Read More »
Janet Bathgate It’s part of life now, the cacophony of road works as I bike several times a week along Bridge Street’s footpath, to lock up at the barrier rail beside the gym. Peering down trenches, breathing in dust, rocks being taken out, rocks being filled back in. Was it really that strange to want
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Welcome to the Window of Curiosities where magical things are on display – but not for long! Every couple of weeks, we’ll showcase one very special object. Think of it like a museum for the people. Right now, we have Abbie Scott’s Cone of Hope. Cone of Hopestained glass, copper foil, lead-based solder, copper wire, brass
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This is the second project we’ve done with the wondrous Anne Braunsteiner (check out her 2021 installation Punk It Up). For The Child Who Anne has created a vibrant artwork on the window next to Gravity Bikes, using vinyl offcuts. It was quite a jigsaw-esque challenge! It is a simple idea, letting the child within you take
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For most of its life, this little beauty the Christian Science building. It’s been empty for a number of years. It has two main spaces, perfect for meetings and gatherings, and, as it turns out, for a rehearsal space for a play. Many thanks to Wakatu Inc for letting us use this little building.
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The perfect corner space for a series of workshops and exhibition. Many thanks to Thompson Property Group.
When a group of students put our the call for a venue for their Ball Op-Shop, we knew the perfect space would be right in the centre of town! Massive thanks to the property owners GB Skeggs Family Trust.
Briscoes has been gone for a while from its space in Montgomery Square, and those bright yellow walls were starting to fill up with posters and graffiti. So as part of Spring Clean Whakatū Nelson, we scrubbed down the walls, ready for the bicycle panels. And wow! They look so great!
How could we resist a bare corrugated iron fence? What’s more, we had the perfect artworks for it. We’ve actually displayed the originals of Dean Raybould’s works in a previous installation, but this time, we printed them onto metal, so they are colour- and weather-fast.
There’s a perfect spot on the side of Nelson English Centre, facing onto Church Street. Big thanks to Nelson English Centre. We hope your students enjoy meeting Appo!
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The corner of Collingwood and Bridge has a long history that stretches back way before the current building.
This is a busy little thoroughfare between Trafalgar Street and Montgomery Carpark – perfect for a display of bold bright images. Many thanks to Pascoe Properties.
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Everyone loves a library! And here at MakeShift we especially love that we’ve got two projects happening on opposite sides of the library building. One is Bill Hammond’s ‘All Along the Heaphy Highway’, as part of ArtWalk, and the other is the 2021 instalment of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori.
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Artists: Amy Adams, Audrey Anderson, Serena Buonaguidi-Haynes, Cate Murphy, Robyn Reynolds, Jane Tan, Fleur Woods Green Shoots is part of the Windows on Bridge series of art installation in empty shops, most to be viewed from the footpath. We’ll be rolling out Windows on Bridge over the next six months or so. Green Shoots features the
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This new project is all about bringing art and creativity into the empty shops on Bridge Street. With the Bridge to Better reconstruction continuing until July 2027, businesses are struggling and we all need that little extra incentive to walk around this part of Nelson. This is where art can make a difference! Windows on Bridge
Our Angel Gardeners are a work-in-progress! The Angel Gardeners are a group of volunteers who commit to help with some planting around the city, as well as upkeep. They meet up about one a week, do some tidying and transplanting, lots of watering and general nature nurturing, as well as the obligatory coffee to finish.
This year for Matariki we’ve taken over some windows on Trafalgar and Bridge street. Matariki is part of the Windows on Bridge series of art installation in empty shops, most to be viewed from the footpath. We’ll be rolling out Windows on Bridge over the next six months or so. There are four displays in the Matariki installation,
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Graham’s Trading was a well-known Nelson retail business for nearly 40 years, closing their doors for the last time in March 2019. There is work to be done to the interior, so Make/Shift Spaces only has access to the windows along the wide frontage – perfect for window displays. This property is owned by Gibbons.
Join us on a new adventure with an audio-guide-with-pictures to take you back in time. The best way to get the full experience is to download the PickPath app – remember, if you don’t like having loads of apps on your phone, you can always delete it after you’ve finished the walk. You can enjoy
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Nelson City Centre ArtWalk is an outdoor art gallery in Nelson’s streets. With more than 20 sites, ArtWalk takes you on a journey past artworks by some of Nelson’s most celebrated artists, as well as artworks that have a particular poignancy to Whakatū.
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Love Letters to Bridge Street is a community engagement project facilitated by Make/Shift Spaces and Arts Council Nelson. So let’s begin with a shout-out to all the lovers out there – Red Art Gallery & Cafe, ArtHouse Architects, Jewel Beetle, Meadow Landscape Architecture, and Whakatū Pride. And then it’s a big thanks to Speedy Signs
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My Fancy Car is a community-inspired mural celebrating imagination, play, and the joy of childhood. Designed with young people and for the whole community, the artwork reflects ideas of movement, creativity, and fun, bringing colour and energy to this shared space. Once again Make/Shift Spaces has teamed up with Arts Council Nelson with a brilliant
By Karolina Serrano & Marcos Fiser at MaKa Creations Composed of 318 individually CNC-cut plywood pieces, this sculptural mural celebrates our natural environment, drawing inspiration from the colours, textures, and forms of native birds and plants. Through its interplay of layered texture, refined form and colour, the artwork invites viewers to reconnect with the land
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Munay wawa means ‘beloved child’ in Quechua, the native language Cusco, the hometown of the artist Lucia Zúñiga Cáceres. The artwork is inspired by several elements. The presence of young people and children in the area, their innocence and curiosity. I want to inspire security and serenity with the colour palette and the expression of the
Art in Transit Whakatū/Nelson: Bus Shelters as a Community Canvases is a trial project that aims to revitalise the city by transforming bus stops into vibrant, engaging spaces that reflect the rich cultural history of the community. If you’d like to give feedback – please click here! The first one to be installed is Stamps
The artwork is inspired by the idea that perspective shapes everything we understand. It takes a playful approach, using humour and simple storytelling to invite people to see both the world—and each other—a little differently. At its centre is a cat with a curious and humorous expression, looking directly at passersby. This creates an immediate
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This street art piece is a tribute to the small companions who quietly form part of everyday life in Nelson, New Zealand. Cats are much more than pets. They are part of our homes, our neighbourhoods, and the community spaces we share. They walk through our streets, rest in our gardens, and, with their unique
Originally from Cali in Colombia, Maryori Barrera has been living in New Zealand for nearly three years. She and her husband came to Nelson from the USA for his work as a pastor. Through our leadership in our community we met Karolina Serrano, and she told me about the ArtBoxes. I would like to thank
