185 Empty Chairs is a temporary art installation on the site of the fallen Oxford Terrace Baptist Church. It reflects on the loss of lives, livelihood and living in our city following the earthquake on 22 February 2011.
185 Empty Chairs
All painted white, and of varying shapes and sizes they symbolise the people who died in the February earthquake. The individuality of each chair pays tribute to the uniqueness of each person represented. There are chairs that look like thrones, a wheelchair, and even a baby’s carrycot.
Empty carrycot at centre
Beside the installation there’s a quote by Anne Lamott:
“You will lose someone you can’t live without,and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.”
I am amazed at the creativity and caring that has gone into providing this place for people to reflect. There will be a meeting for prayer here this evening.
Ruth's Reflections 
This is so moving, and such a strong tribute to those who died.
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This is so powerful. Ann Lamott has great skill where grief and suffering is concerned. A fitting quote.
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Was pleasing to see how many people turned out for the prayers there last night despite the rain (so reminiscent of last year when it rained in the evening too). I concentrated on two chairs and two people that were lost sitting in them, and in my mind I could clearly see them sitting there smiling at us.
The chairs are expected to be there for about a week.
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It’s a wonderful installation. I’ve directed several people there today.
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