The Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna O Waiwhetu remains closed until further notice so that it can continue to be a base for the planning and coordination of the city's rebuild. Life is not easy for gallery staff in the quake-ravaged city, but recently they received some good news in the form of a gift from Japan - a gift valued not in dollars, but rather generosity of spirit.
After researching ways to upgrade picture hanging systems to offer greater protection for artworks during earthquakes, the Gallery settled on double-ended, spring-locked hooks. When they approached Japanese manufacturer Takiya to buy the hooks they were told they would be supplied free of charge. The president of Takiya, Nobuo Nakamura, donated around $10,000 worth of product to the gallery - an especially touching gesture because the donation came after Japan's own horrific earthquake and tsunami.
