Hot tub talk machine

Last weekend, I argued environmental policy with David Round, Sam Mahon, and Camila Nieuwlands in a hot tub full of warm milk at CoCA, Christchurch's Centre of Contemporary Art.

A snippet from my column in this week's Insights newsletter on it. Trigger warning if you hit the link: There are pictures.

Gaby Montejo is one of Christchurch’s more interesting artists, and the post-quake Christchurch arts scene is especially entrepreneurial. Gaby, and others, improvised wonderfully around the city’s demolished and ruined spaces, giving everyone little bits of whimsy and beauty.

I couldn’t really say no when he asked if I’d join in a performance exhibition he was putting on at Christchurch’s Centre of Contemporary Art (CoCA).

He wanted a panel discussion about dairy and the environment in an art space surrounded by other works on environmental themes, but different. Rather than sit at the front of the room at a table with a lectern, we sat in Gaby’s “Honeymoon Latte” – a warm hot tub full of milk – for a conversation about dairy, the environment, and economics, and the amusement of a few dozen spectators who came around to listen in.

I assumed my job was to add a few shots of espresso to the mix, and so had a lot of fun.

You can subscribe to our newsletter with the little form at the bottom of the column above-linked. If you want a subscription link that doesn't come with risk of pictures of me in a hot tub filled with milk, sign up via Jason Krupp's column on the launch of his report on local government, or Martine's on data and education policy.