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By Stacey DoornenbalArt lovers were spoiled for choice withthree exhibitions staged during the festival— Red Bus Diary featuring the candidphotographs of Christchurch taken byphotographer Tim Veling for his Master ofFine Arts project; an exhibition of nudesfrom the University’s art collection; and asuite of photo intaglio prints by fine artslecturer Cathryn Shine.Shine, a photographer and printmaker,exhibited her latest body of work inthe University’s SOFA Gallery in theChristchurch Arts Centre as Sotto UnCielo Avorio — Under an Ivory Sky. It featureda set of intimate images that captured theromantic, ineffable beauty of the ordinaryplaces in Italy: domestic landscapes,doorways, rambling gardens and fadingarchaeological sites.But while Shine’s images were quietlyunpopulated, the same could not besaid for Southern Exposure: The Nudeat Canterbury.About 30 artworks from the University’sart collection featuring nudes and figurestudies were brought out of the archivesfor Platform. Illustrating the history offigure studies at Canterbury University,the artworks reflected not only the varietyof ways nudes were portrayed — full nudes,anatomical studies, with drapery and asstudies from antiques — but also therelaxation, over time, of social pruderyassociated with the naked human body.The exhibition featured work by formerstaff and graduates, including WilliamSutton, Audrey Black, Leo Bensemann,Juliet Peter, Robert Procter, Ivy Fife andPetrus van der Velden.Platform also offered an extensive musicprogramme with one of the highlightsbeing a stunning performance of AntonioVivaldi’s The Four Seasons by Russianbornguest violinist Roman Nodel andthe Chamber Orchestra from the Schoolof Music’s Pettman Junior Academy ofMusic. Performing to a full house, Nodeland the orchestra received a warmreception from the audience at theconclusion of the concert.Other music offerings included a galaperformance by Dame Malvina withvoice student Jamie Ling and pianistArtas Balakauskas; a recital of ItalianBaroque music by the University ensembleIl Raccolto; a concert celebrating the 25 thanniversary of The Bunker, the University’selectro-acoustic studio; and a shortconcert celebrating the Elizabethan agethrough music and poetry.The College of Arts hopes to hold acelebration of the arts at CanterburyUniversity every two years.Roman Nodel Southern Exposure Red Bus DiarySummer 2006