Colossal squid opens the door to the twilight zone

Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery was packed with young and old enjoying a deep-sea themed evening last Thursday.

The museum hosted a twilight zone-themed evening that coincided with the museum’s colossal squid exhibit as well as national Youth Week.

Central Stories manager Paula Stephenson said the event brought 70 children and their families to the museum.

The colossal squid exhibit was loaned to the museum for a month by Te Papa and it contains actual samples from an autopsied squid.

Ms Stephenson said the museum put up a dark twilight zone room to host the loaned exhibit, inspired by the dark area of the ocean with the same name which colossal squids inhabit.

Little is known about the colossal squid and only a few specimens have been studied, she said.

As well as the squid exhibit, there was aquatic creature-themed activities, like making your own jellyfish or biscuit decorating.

For year 9 students and above there was a dark sky photography workshop hosted in the Grant Gallery by Andy Davey.

Mr Davey hosted an interactive talk and when it was dark enough, attendees went outside to put what they learned into practice.

Ms Stephenson said she was absolutely happy with how the event went.

"It was great to see the kids ... be able to celebrate Youth Week and for the kids to be able to take part in some of these interactive activities and learn a bit more about the colossal squid and under the sea."

Nibbles and drinks were also on hand for visitors including squid rings, in keeping with the theme of the evening.

The night was well received by parents, some of who had not visited the museum before.

"They were quite pleasantly surprised about how amazing it was, it was very positive comments, very positive," she said.

The colossal squid exhibit runs until early June and staff from Te Papa will come to return the exhibit to Wellington on June 9.