This article examines the representation of Christchurch, New Zealand, student radio station RDU in the exhibition Alternative Radio at the Canterbury Museum in 2016. With the intention of ‘making visible what is invisible’ about radio broadcasting, the exhibition articulated RDU as a point of interconnection between the technical elements of broadcasting, the social and musical culture of station staff and volunteers, and the broader local and national music scenes. This paper is grounded in observations of the exhibitions and associated public programmes, and interviews with the key participants in the exhibition including the museum's exhibition designer and staff from RDU, who acted as independent practitioners in collaboration with the museum. Alternative Radio also addressed the aftermath of the major earthquake of 22 February 2011, when RDU moved into a customised horse truck after losing its broadcast studio. The exhibition came about because of the cultural resonance of the post-quake story, but also emphasised the long history of the station before that event, and located this small student radio station in the broader heritage discourse of the Canterbury museum, activating the historical, cultural, and personal memories of the station's participants and audiences.
A photograph of an installation titled 'In Your Face'. The installation is part of the LUXCITY event. Tutor: Fraser Horton
A PDF copy of pages 8-9 of the book Christchurch: The Transitional City Pt IV. The pages document the transitional project 'EPIC'.
An artist's impression of the installation 'eLITE', created as part of the LUXCITY event. Tutors: Cameron Rowe, Kate Rogan
A photograph of bicycles mounted in generator stands at Gap Filler's cycle-powered cinema. Cyclists are pedalling the bicycles to provide power for the cinema.
A photograph of people arriving at the site of Gap Filler's cycle-powered cinema. In the foreground, a sign advertises the films to be shown.
A photograph of bricks laid as a pathway in Churchill Park. Each brick has a message written on it.
A photograph of students from the Student Volunteer Army and Entré on the site of Christchurch: A Board Game.
A photograph of a sign describing St Luke's Labyrinth.
A photograph of students from the Student Volunteer Army and Entré with University of Canterbury Vice-Chancellor Rod Carr.
A photograph of bricks laid as a pathway in Churchill Park. Each brick has a message written on it.
A photograph of Mike Hewson's installation 'Homage to the Lost Spaces' being installed on plywood covering the earthquake-damaged Cranmer Courts building.
A photograph of Mike Hewson's installation 'Homage to the Lost Spaces' being installed on plywood covering the earthquake-damaged Cranmer Courts building.
A photograph of part of Mike Hewson's installation 'Homage to the Lost Spaces' on the earthquake-damaged Cranmer Courts building.
A photograph of Mike Hewson's installation 'Homage to the Lost Spaces' being installed on plywood covering the earthquake-damaged Cranmer Courts building.
A photograph of Mike Hewson's installation 'Homage to the Lost Spaces' being installed on plywood covering the earthquake-damaged Cranmer Courts building.
An artist's impression of the LUXCITY event. The image depicts installations on Gloucester and Colombo Streets. Student: Erica Austin
A photograph of crowds at the LUXCITY event.
An artist's impression of the installation 'In Your Face', created as part of the LUXCITY event. Tutor: Fraser Horton
An artist's impression of the installation 'Atmosphere', created as part of the LUXCITY event. Tutor: Sue Hillery
A photograph of children cycling on the Fulton Hogan BMX Pump Track.
A photograph of a movie being shown in Gap Filler's temporary outdoor cinema. The cinema is on the corner of Madras and St Asaph Streets.
A photograph of bricks stacked to spell out the word 'Lyttelton'. Behind the letters, plant pots have been laid out to form a temporary garden.
A photograph of a sign describing the Fulton Hogan BMX Pump Track.
A plan for Greening the Rubble's Green Room garden on Colombo Street. The plan was created by Jonathan Hall and Wendy Hoddinott from Greening the Rubble.
An artist's impression of the Greening the Rubble Green Room garden on Colombo Street. The image was created by Jonathan Hall and Wendy Hoddinott from Greening the Rubble.
A photograph of Helen Campbell repairing the mosaic on Crack'd for Christchurch's ottoman artwork. The ottoman is in the Green Room garden on Colombo Street.
A photograph of a heart-shaped bag created by Jane Quigley. The bag is hanging from a post in the NG Gallery car park.
A photograph of a volunteer wearing an In Our Backyard competition shirt. The shirt lists supporters and sponsors of the competition.
An artist's impression of the installation 'Tonic', created as part of the LUXCITY event. Tutors: Annabel Pretty, Cesar Wagner, Peter McPherson