KAU AULOA: A fine arts exhibit, Millennium hall, alofi Niue Island
April 12th -17th 2009, Preview Friday 10th April, 5-7pm

An exciting display of sculpture, printmaking, painting, photography and weaving from artists of Niue descent, some who will be show casing their works for the first time on Niue Island.

The exhibition is part of the inaugural Niue Arts and Culture festival being held in Niue, April 2009 where contemporary meets traditional, where artists are able to converge and discuss their art form, take part in workshops, and listen to other practitioners.

Artist include: (from Niue)Kenneth Green, Susana Sionetuato, Moira Enetama, Poi Hopotoa, Sale Jessop, Ira Merrifield (from Aotearoa) Lina Marsh, Hili Mokalei, Cerisse Palalagi, Mata Smith, Alexa Shaw, Chris Van Doren, Zora Feilo and Glenda Vilisoni

COLOUR AND CONTRAST
A solo exhibition by Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi

 Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi presents a series of new paintings alongside maquettes and sculpture based on the Tongan lalava (sennit binding). This exhibition explores recent works using classic patterns – some with traditional sacred hues and others with exceptional infusions of colour.

Tohi has identified a visual language based on lalava and what its patterns signify. He translates and expands this language into larger, two and three dimensional drawings, paintings and sculptures that allow viewers to enter and experience the nature of geometric patterns.

Tohi states, “My work transforms the technology of the past into a modern representation of identity and experience.” 

For more information on the artist, see www.lalava.net

The Wai Art Awards are a national exhibition starting Queen’s Birthday Weekend in June and running for two weeks in Carterton, New Zealand. 

There is a first prize of $3000 and a very popular ‘peoples choice award’ of $1000. The Wai Art Awards are fast becoming a nationally recognised and popular award for artists to enter.

Open to all New Zealand artists. Receiving artwork on 22 May. Exhibition runs from 30 May to 14 June. Contact Anna-Marie Kingsley 06 379 9177 or email info@waiart.org.nz
Download entry forms from www.waiart.org.nz

City Gallery Wellington reopens to the public in September this year. This is an opportunity to play a pivotal role as part of a motivated and high-performing team to ensure the Gallery is highly successful and continues to attract and engage audiences.

Curator Maori & Pacific Art

The new Roderick and Gillian Deane gallery will showcase the work of Maori and Pacific artists and designers. You will curate and co-ordinate this exhibition programme and organise related events. Your understanding of tikanga and kawa Maori will be invaluable, and ideally your understanding of Pacific cultural practices and knowledge systems. Building strong relationships with artists and communities is a vital part of this role. As part of the curatorial team you’ll also contribute to the Gallery’s overall exhibition programmes. You’ll need experience as a curator, or equivalent, and hold a relevant tertiary qualification.

Manager, Marketing and Communications

As part of City Gallery’s senior management team you’ll lead the development and delivery of its marketing and communication strategies to promote the Gallery and  its artistic programmes to the media and the public. Using your experience in marketing and/or communications, you’ll bring a strategic focus to all aspects of your work to enhance the Gallery brand and attract new audiences. You will work closely with the Gallery Director and Business Manager to develop and deliver sponsorship initiatives and proposals, and build City Gallery Wellington Foundation Membership. Your approach is entrepreneurial, innovative and proactive. You will have well developed networks that will support your role.

In both of these roles, we’ll value your drive, energy, flexibility and commitment to thinking creatively.

The closing date for applications is Monday 30 March 2009.

For further information and an application pack please contact Lily Hacking 04 8013021 or email lily.hacking@wmt.org.nz.

Tino Rangatira Tanga

Leilani Kake

Tino Rangatira Tanga is a video installation presenting the artists late father, Richard Kake who passed away in April 2008. He was a man that embodied Tino Rangatira Tanga, and surrounded himself with the love of music, whanau and Te Ao Maori.

Forward Frangipani – A Movement, A Meating of Minds, a New Breed….

Courtney Meredith, Danielle Meredith, Rebekah Rangiwai and Tyla Vaeau.

The frangipani flower has become a symbol of the Pacific despite its northern American origins. Representative of Pacific femininity, these flowers have claimed sovereignty over every Pacific nation and its inhabitants. In turn they have created a pleasing and benign culture. Forward Frangipani is a collective of young creatives; their work adds new voices to the continuing discussion of Pacific roads traversed in an urban contemporary setting while celebrating the success of young brown women. Imbued with Pacific and Maori undertones, their art focuses on themes of fanau, cultural markers, the ‘urban’ and a beckoning future.

The Forward Frangipani exhibition is a mixed media snapshot taken in context of a young Pacific generation; of the way they assert themselves, their cultures, and their people….forward.

A web based catalogue has now been added to the existing site www.lefolauga.co.nz  and KMFA have also produced a hard copy catalogue to accompany the show.

For further information please contact:
Christina Jeffery, Manager,
Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust
manager@tautai.co.nz

Koloa et al: Your Art is my Treasure
Curated Charmaine ‘Ilaiu + Nina Tonga
Featuring members of Mo’ui aonga Tongan Cultural Centre, Otahuhu
EXHIBITION DATES: 20 February – 14 March
 
As part of the 2009 Celebrate Pasifika festival Fresh Gallery Otara presents an exhibition of the Tongan women’s textile art form ‘koloa’.

Charmaine ‘Ilaiu and Nina Tonga have curated an exhibition that explores and celebrates the work of Tongan women in the community. They’ve discovered that for many Tongan women, koloa is not seen as art; rather it is a way of life.

Working closely with members of the Tongan women’s collective Mo’ui aonga Tongan Cultural Centre based in Otahuhu, co-curator Charmaine ‘Ilaiu says it’s been a very collaborative approach with everyone contributing their ideas.

Charmaine believes the final result is an inspiring installation piece, something that hasn’t been exhibited before.

“At first the women were quite hesitant and unsure of what a gallery space would do for their koloa. But now they’ve embraced the project and are really keen to show their work to the wider community.”
Koloa (cultural wealth) is a term that can include a range of textile forms and creative processes: ngatu, or bark cloth; fala, or woven mats and monomono, or quilt-making. The use of new materials and techniques proves that Tongan koloa is not a dying custom, but continues to thrive as older women pass on their skills to the younger generation.

Koloa et al: Your Art is my Treasure will transform the gallery space in the customary manner of Tongan teuteu, or preparatory adornment.