events/
ON NOW…
Exploring Historic Photographic Processes: Kinsey Cottage Open Day
Kinsey Den & Darkroom - Ferrymead Heritage Park - 1st December 2024, 10am -3pm
Step back in time to Kinsey Cottage, the historic den and darkroom of Sir Joseph Kinsey, patron of Antarctic explorers Sir Ernest Shackleton and Sir Robert Falcon Scott. Join contemporary photographic alchemist and Antarctic adventurer Rewa Rendall for an open day celebrating the rich history of early Antarctic exploration and the artistry of wet plate photography (c. 1856).
Witness live demonstrations of this captivating black art process throughout the day and enjoy a rare opportunity to step inside Kinsey’s historic darkroom, where Herbert Ponting once worked as expedition photographer for Scott.
Connect with a passionate community dedicated to preserving these historic techniques, and discover how you can become part of the story.
No bookings required—drop by anytime between 10 am and 3 pm, Sunday. Whether you’re an enthusiast or just curious, join us in celebrating this timeless craft and the heroic legacy of Antarctic exploration!
ON NOW…
Legacy Plates - immersive portrait sessions
Kinsey Den & Darkroom - Ferrymead Heritage Park - December 2024
Step inside the Kinsey Den and Darkroom, a sanctuary where history converges with artistry to breathe life into timeless Legacy Plates. Within these walls, the echoes of early explorers resonate, their indomitable spirit infusing each image with a sense of adventure and resilience. Today, the legacy of Kinsey and his collaborators lives on, as each Ambrotype and Tintype is meticulously crafted using techniques honed in this very space. Here, the past converges with the present, ensuring that your story, like those of the intrepid explorers before you, will endure for generations to come. Don’t miss the chance to have your portrait handcrafted on glass or tin during this window of opportunity - for legacy plate enquiries click HERE BOOK NOW LIMITED SESSIONS THIS DECEMBER
PAST EVENTS
Frozen Echoes - wet plate photography exhibition
Pūmanawa Gallery - The Arts Centre
Monday 28th October - Sunday 3rd November 2024
Christchurch has long served as a vital gateway to the Antarctic, a role deeply intertwined with the heroic age of Antarctic exploration. "Frozen Echoes" pays homage to this legacy by spotlighting Sir Joseph Kinsey, the shipping agent who played a pivotal role in supporting the expeditions of Sir Robert Falcon Scott and Sir Ernest Shackleton. Both explorers signed Kinsey's visitor book on their way south, marking the beginning of journeys that would become legendary. Rewa Rendall's work continues this narrative, capturing the faces of modern explorers in Kinsey's Den and Darkroom using the black art of wet plate photography, c.1856 techniques that echo the past. Through these handcrafted Ferrotypes, the exhibition bridges the historic and the contemporary, celebrating the enduring spirit of human exploration.
PAST EVENTS
Exploring Historic Photographic Processes
Kinsey Den & Darkroom Visit - Ferrymead Heritage Park - Sunday 13th October 2024
Step into the historic darkroom of Sir Joseph Kinsey, shipping agent for Sir Ernest Shackleton and Sir Robert Falcon Scott during the heroic age of Antarctic exploration. Join contemporary photographic alchemist and Antarctic adventurer Rewa Rendall for a unique opportunity to explore the black art of portraiture. Don't miss this captivating talk and demonstration of wet plate photography c.1856.
Taking place at the historically significant Kinsey's Cottage, once the den and darkroom of Sir Joseph Kinsey, this event promises a rich, immersive experience. Participants will gain exclusive access to Kinsey's darkroom, standing in the same space as Herbert Ponting, expedition photographer for Scott.
One lucky visitor will be selected to sit for their portrait, valued at $350. Book your ticket into the darkroom and witness the creation of a timeless keepsake while exploring the legacy of Sir Joseph Kinsey and the heroic age of Antarctic exploration! MISSED OUT? REGISTER YOUR INTEREST HERE FOR THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY
Expedition into Portraiture - Days of Ice
Tūranga - Christchurch City Library - Friday 11th October 2024 1-2pm
Celebrate Days of Ice with an afternoon of artistry, legacy, and storytelling. Immerse yourself in the art of wet plate photography and explore the rich narrative of early Antarctic exploration. Reserve your seat for a spellbinding experience that introduces Sir Joseph Kinsey, shipping agent for Scott and Shackleton. Rewa will look through the lens of Herbert Ponting, expedition photographer for Sir Robert Falcon Scott, and showcase the many faces captured in Kinsey's historic darkroom at Ferrymead Heritage Park.
“Spellbinding, a gifted storyteller that leaves a lasting impression.” Martin James
DO YOU BELONG TO A GROUP? REGISTER YOUR INTEREST HERE FOR A GREAT ARTISTS TALK
Mid Winter Dinner - Antarctic Society
Elms Hotel - Christchurch - Friday 12th July 2024 from 6pm
The annual event that honours those who spend winter on the Ice and commemorates Captain Scott's last mid-winter celebration in Antarctica in 1911. Join Rewa Rendall guest speaker for the evening and immerse yourself in the longitude and latitude of legacy, as she speaks about the art of wetplate portraiture and Sir Joseph Kinseys Legacy. Price: $60 pp - Please book and pay by Thursday 4th July Antarctic Society
Frozen Echoes - immersive portraits/
Kinsey Cottage - Ferrymead Heritage Park 1-22 December 2023
Step inside the historic darkroom and hear the echoes of Herbert Ponting, expedition photographer for Robert Falcon Scott’s Terra Nova Expedition to the South Pole 1910-1913. An immersive experience exploring the techniques and processes of 19th-century photography. Rewa celebrates the historical significance of Ponting's work and invites visitors to explore the Antarctic legacy through art, education, and contemporary narratives.
French Festival Akaroa 2023/
French Festival - Akaroa - New Zealand - 6-8 October 2023
Time travel in style at this years French Festival. Take a seat in the historic Captain Bruces chair and have your portrait taken.
Days of Ice Festival 2023/
Turanga Christchurch City Library - 3-5 October 2023
Voyage south into a landscape that will soon become extinct. Liquid Landscapes immersive presentation
Artist talk - Photosynthesis 2023/
Photosynthesis - Christchurch - New Zealand . 11 July 2023
A visual expedition into a landscape that will soon be extinct. Join Rewa for a voyage south, across the Drake Passage and climb to the peaks of the Antarctic Peninsula. Hosted by Photosynthesis as part of the winter talk series.