Message in a Bottle

Wellington Airports’ five-week series of events continue next week with Message in a Bottle opening at the StageSpace. This event allows the public to leave behind personal messages in a bottle, which will then be put out to sea as a time capsule of this exciting time for Wellington City. 

The StageSpace, ‘a place in the clouds’, is a stage and lounge area designed by Gold Best Design award winner; The Playground NZ and is presented by Wellington International Airport and JR/Duty Free. “It is a place where the public can relax and dream as they travel from A to B, like a view from an airplane window, these events offer moments of distraction from the demands of travelling” Sam Trubridge, Artistic Director.

Ian Hammond one of a group of artists who developed the concept Message in a Bottle was interested to learn that the bottle they had chosen for this public event had a history all of its own.  “I bought this amazing bottle from the David White Gallery, and the guy who sold it to me said it was one of Fast Eddie’s bottles. Apparently Fast Eddie was a merchant seaman in the 1950’s who sailed around the world until he reached Wellington port; he then hopped off the boat and never looked back! He was well known amongst the antique traders and got the name ‘Fast Eddie’ because he was actually very large and slow! It’s neat that the time capsule vessel we have chosen already has a long history of its own” – Ian Hammond, Message in a Bottle.

Message in a Bottle runs daily from the 26th of September through to the 2nd of October.  There is also a programme of events surrounding this including the Pacific Artist Collaboration on Monday and Tuesday afternoons, performances from the New Zealand School of Dance, live composer Alex Mann and The Migrating Kitchen and The Diwali Festival over the weekend.  Make sure to arrive at the airport early to beat the crowds and to enjoy the entertainment.

StageSpace runs at the Wellington International Airport, September 9 – October 11, 2011.