Meet Me In The Square

The Christchurch Art Gallery, despite its main gallery remaining closed for earthquake repairs, has been active in finding temporary premises to exhibit around the city. One such exhibition that is currently on is 'Meet me in the Square' - a collection of photographs taken of townsfolk as they go about their business in and around the Square in the 1970s and 1980s.
Years ago, the Square was the hub of the city. You could drive around the Square and the Cathedral, all the buses departed from the Square, and most of the movie theatres were situated around the Square. It was the place to be - especially Friday nights when the shops remained open until 9pm.
Sadly, the suburban malls have taken people away from the city, there are no theatres in Square, few buses go via the Square, and no shops are open on a Friday evening.
So all we are left with now are memories................

'Meet me in the Square' exhibition - The Physics Room, Tuam St.

Way back in 1971, Chris and I went to live in Syracuse, Upstate New York. The centre of that city, approximately the same size as Christchurch - maybe a little larger, was completely dead. It had been taken over by large suburban malls. The town centre was in decline. The buildings were abandoned, nobody went there. It felt unsafe. That has happened throughout the USA - and is happening here to a lesser degree.