New Zealand

Living Halls represents the findings of an ambitious research project undertaken by Fiona Jack based in the study and cataloguing of New Zealand war memorial halls. Following the Second World War, government funds were made available for communities to plan and apply for support for memorial halls. Hundreds of these buildings, in what became a vernacular tradition, now form a chain of public space the length of the country. Jack has compiled a list of all extant halls and is working with people living in proximity to the halls to provide paintings of them. She is also making paintings herself based on the original applications made by communities now kept in the National Archives. Living Halls will feature writing by architectural historian Bill McKay, fiction by Los Angeles writer Janet Sarbanes and writing by Jack herself. Jack has been artist-in-residence at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery during the 2009-2010 summer, and the gallery will co-publish the book with Clouds. The publication has received major funding from the University of Auckland’s Elam School of Fine Arts Research Fund.