b'Coralie Winn is one pivotal power-housealbeit an increasingly tired oneof the post-earthquake Christchurch City phenomenon called Gap Filler. Gap Filler was begun by a few creative souls in the wake of the initial September 2010 earthquake to temporarily activate the many blank sites of ex-demolition wasteland that were fast populating the city. These sites have now become backdrops, art galleries, or places to congregate for dancing, live music, or tournaments. The initiative was scaled up after the February 2011 disaster and is now a charitable trust; Coralie certainly has her work cut out. GapFillerprojectsarealwaysunexpected,off-beatorthought-provoking, nearly always colourful. And to many GF undertakings, Resene has donated many litres of recycled waterborne paint.Creative New Zealand, the Tindall Foundation, the Todd Foundation, the Canterbury Community Trust, and the Vodafone Canterbury Fund have all been financial donors.Sometimes a vacant lot will feature little more than rubble or bits of mangled metal. But whats left might be a safe wall; a seismically strong side of a neighbouring building. This will then be used as an artists canvas, such as the one at left by Melbourne artist Ash Keating and created using fire extinguishers charged with Resene paint. His dynamic work aims to provoke questions about how widely tilt-slab concrete should be used in the citys rebuild.Another large wall mural features a shadow-board of tools. Its a reminder of all the necessary, practical items rendered inaccessible and lost forever as a result of the quakes.A recent project requiring hundreds of volunteers was the Summer Pallet Pavilion, conceived as a seasonal space for events. Built from 3000 blue wooden pallets, it houses a secret garden as an oasis amidst rubble and emptiness.Coralie believes the Gap Filler initiative is psychologically and socially necessary for Christchurch people. While the rest of the world moved on, locals were left without the meeting places, bars, restaurants, artgalleriesandvenueswhichmadelifeinthecityvibrantand interesting. Landmark buildings have been replaced with what looks like a vast, moon-surfaced car park. Says Coralie: Everyone realises the rebuild will take years; decades even. So by temporarily filling areas with positive, colourful, quirky spaces to hang out in, were rejecting the passive wait for things to happen mentality. Shes amazed by how many people have been willing to volunteer time, money or recycled materials. Getting the community involved has been good, she enthuses. People in responsible positions in the post-quake city are now exhausted. Thats why its great for volunteers A large wall mural features a shadow-boardto be rebuilding the city in this way.of tools as a reminder of all the necessary, practical items rendered inaccessible and lostI am here to make sure people can engage with a colourful central forever in the quakes. city again. Getting involved with Gap Filler is a way of processing whatshappenedhere,andmakingsomethingcreativeand picturesJuliet Nicholasresourceful emerge from it. Were helping create a new identity for and John Colliethis city here and now. Its exciting! wordsLiesl Johnstone ReseneYarraReseneHalf Escape 51'