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Cantabrians are invited to reflect on their earthquake experiences at Quake City during an upcoming free entry weekend.
On August 04 and 05, the Canterbury Museum special exhibition will waive its usual entry fee for visitors. The exhibition is designed to take visitors through the events of the Canterbury earthquakes, from the first shake in September 2010, through the destruction and rescue efforts of February 2011 and the cleanup and rebuild over subsequent years.
“Quake City is a safe place for Cantabrians to remember and reflect on their own earthquake experiences,” Canterbury Museum director Anthony Wright said. “I hope they take the opportunity to visit the exhibition for free.”
Quake City exhibits some of the defining objects of the Canterbury earthquakes. These include the top of the spire of Christchurch Cathedral, road cones, water containers and portaloos that were part of many Cantabrians’ lives post-earthquake. Visitors can harness pedal power to watch a short film on Gap Filler’s cycle-powered cinema, or design new buildings for Christchurch using Lego bricks. There are also scientific explanations for what caused the quakes and why the February seismic event, in particular, was so destructive.
“The earthquakes will forever be a part of Christchurch’s history and this exhibition is a way for residents and visitors to connect with the events on many different levels – from the science behind them to the incredible human stories of community resilience,” said Earthquake Commission (EQC) general manager of resilience Dr. Hugh Cowan.
“Support for such initiatives is a key part of what EQC does to promote awareness and understanding of natural disaster risk,” he added.
EQC is supporting the exhibition as a major sponsor.
