Latin letters bring lane's legacy to life

A fresh artwork marking out a central city laneway captures its newsworthy history.

The Press motto from its masthead - Nihil utile quod non honestum (Nothing is useful unless it is honest) - has been painted along the footpath of the Press Lane Walkway, with its mirror image typeset text opposite. The lane runs between Cathedral Square and Gloucester St, near The Press building.

A new artwork captures the history of Press Lane.

The artwork is one of many temporary revitalisation projects delivered through the Christchurch City Council's Enliven Places Programme.

This project is designed to increase safety and pedestrian use of the laneway, which is near the new central city library Tūranga, until surrounding properties are developed.

Local artist and Ara Institute Visual Arts Degree student Grace Duval hand-painted the latin motto from the newspaper that gives the lane its name. She has also created artworks on a nearby substation wall depicting residents and signposts from the lane’s colourful history. The thoroughfare was once home to a laundry and a surgeon’s rooms.

Landscaping in the area was designed by Lincoln University student Johanna Blakely, and the planter boxes, seats and native plants, were installed and planted by Greening the Rubble late last year.

Staff at The Press were involved in working with Duval on her designs and expressed interest in seeing the motto included as part of the artwork.

Before the earthquakes the lane was bordered by the historic The Press building and Warners Hotel. The old Press building and Warners were both badly damaged in the February 2011 quake and later demolished. A new Press building opened in 2012 on an adjacent site.

Council Head of Urban Design, Regeneration and Heritage Carolyn Ingles said the project was a way to bring the area’s history to life for residents who might not otherwise be aware of it. It also made a more appealing walkway for pedestrians.

“The artwork captures the heritage and associations behind the lane’s name, and makes it a more interesting and pleasant route for the growing number of people working in and visiting our central city.”