On the 27th, 28th, 29th April 2011 Tautai Trust ran workshops hosted by the Otago Polytechnic in their School of Art Department. The Pacific artists who tutored the workshops were:
Bridget Inder: Samoan/Pakeha. Bridget is a printmaker who graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Art in 2003 from Otago Polytechnic and went on to complete her Masters of Fine Art which she gained with Distinction in 2010. Bridget is the first student of Pacific heritage to gain a MFA from Otago Polytechnic. She lectures part time and manages an art studio for adults with intellectual and physical disabilities.
Tusiata Avia: Samoa/Pakeha performance poet. Her poetry explores Pacifica and cross-cultural themes. She has toured both nationally and internationally performing her solo show Wild Dogs Under My Skirt which premiered at the 2002 Dunedin Fringe Festival. She has a book of poetry by the same name, and has written children’s books Mele and the Fofo, 2004 and The Song, 2002. Tusiata won the 2005 Fullbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writer’s Residency at the University of Hawai’i.
Matthew Salapu Faiumu: Samoan. Aka ‘Anonymouz’. Matthew is a classically trained musician and has been widely involved in the New Zealand music industry. He writes, composes, produces and arranges music, plays the piano and rap.
Special thanks to co-ordinator Pip Laufiso and assistants Tere Moeroa and Hiliako Iaheto.
