The Lime Burners

Dunedin Dream Brokerage is delighted to be partnering with Dunedin City Council in our third iteration of Environment Envoy, an environmental arts commission that bridges art and the natural world, funded by Te Ao Tūroa, Dunedin’s Environment Strategy.

We are excited to announce Tim Barlow. with his project The Lime Burners, is the recipient of the 2021 Environment Envoy commission. This group exhibition and public programme hosted by the Gasworks Museum will explore the ancient techniques of lime used in art and architecture.

Barlow’s research into lime became specific to Ōtepoti Dunedin and Otago during his residency at the Otago Polytechnic Dunedin School of Art in 2020. The Lime Burners will showcase recovered and experimental artistic and masonry techniques focused on limestone, lime plasters and lime concretes. The kaupapa creates an active forum to experiment with lime alternatives as low carbon production processes and discuss solutions in the reduction of CO2 emissions in the artmaking and building industries.

Lime materials have a curious history shrouded in mysterious cults, secretive guilds and forgotten knowledge. Fascinated by this 10,000 year old association between humans and quicklime, Tim Barlow has invited local artisans Jenny Hjertquist, Madeleine Child, Madison Kelly, Daisy Biscuit, Stuart Griffiths, Anna-Marie Mirfin, Patrick Ferris, Louisa Baillie, Gavin Thomson, Jenna Packer, Andrew Barsby, Ben Eyers, Rupert Morris, Dillon Waddell, and Marion Familton to reimagine the relationship between humans, technology and lime culture.

Nau mai, tauti mai – everyone is welcome to come along to the opening of The Lime Burners on Friday 14 May at 6pm, in the fitting room at the Gasworks Museum on 20 Braemar Street, South Dunedin. You are also invited to join workshops and demonstrations on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 May, on hot lime mixing, traditional masonry techniques, fresco painting, sculpting, polishing lime plasters, and the local history of lime followed by public conversations at the end of each day.