Vaka Niue- By the Teenage Sons of Nukututaha is an exhibition displaying vakas (canoes) carved by 16 New Zealand-born Niuean teenagers.

The work was produced in a series of Niuean vaka workshops and will be displayed at Artstation from Wednesday, 30 September to Saturday, 10 October.

The vakas were made under the guidance of two master carvers, Masini Tukuniu and Muiakitau Talauta. The workshops and exhibition were aimed at Niuean youth, to teach them about their cultural heritage and the traditions of Niue.

Organiser Zora Feilo hopes that the young men will appreciate learning new carving skills and reconnect with their Niuean history and culture by realising the significance of the vaka to Niuean people.. 

“The vaka is still a very important part of Niuean culture from the past to the present, as it was a vessel of migration and a tool to feed families,” she says.

The exhibition coincides with Niuean Constitution Day, Pule Fakamotu, and will also include artworks by nine Niuean artists.

Visit www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/artstation for more information.

Vaka Niue is proudly funded by Auckland City Council’s Creative Communities scheme, a partnership between Creative New Zealand and Auckland City Council.

EXHIBITION INFORMATION:

‘Vaka Niue’ by the Teenage Sons of Nukututaha

Artists include:
Master Carvers: Masini Tukuniu  and Muiakitau Talauta

Niuean teenagers: Braxton Naepi, Fohe Sipley, Rakai Heka-Beazly, Jaelen Mamea-Etuata,  Brendon Kauie, Thomas Kauie, Zethan Makapa, Allexander Makapa, Justin Makatuki, Michael Makatuki, James Palalagi, Amadeus Siligi, Reuben Siligi, Bronson Tuhipa, Niutama Tuhipa, Jamal Tukuleva, Yannik Feilo

Artists: Samantha Atasani, Kirsten Feilo-Makapa, Cerisse Palalagi, Waiora Palalagi,  Pepe Sipley-Siligi, Lange Taufelila,  Maverick Tohilima

Exhibition:             30 September to 10 October 2009
Opening:                  Tuesday, 29 September at 5pm-7pm
Gallery hours:     9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
                                        10am to 4pm Saturday

1 Ponsonby Rd, Newton, Auckland
www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/artstation
ph: 09 376 3221
For further information, please contact:
Kathryn Tsui, Artstation gallery coordinator
Ph 09 376 3221

This entry was posted on Monday, September 28th, 2009 at 12:19 pm and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.