FIERY EXCHANGE

Swapping one volcanic landscape for another¸ Hawaiian artist Jordan Souza is set to arrive in Auckland in late February to take up his Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust Artist Residency. Jordan will spend five weeks in New Zealand and will be available for interviews during his stay.

The 26-year old artist showed passion and commitment to art in his application for the residence, and Christina Jeffrey, manager of Tautai, hopes that Jordan will be able to maximise his time spent in Auckland by ‘networking and experiencing the local art scene.’ The residence aims to give a Pacific Island artist from outside New Zealand a chance to meet and interact with our local art community. Tautai will provide airfares, accommodation and a stipend during Jordan’s stay.

Having already completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Hawaii, Jordan is now enrolled in a post graduate programme at the Center for Pacific Island Studies, focusing on indigenous arts and cultural practices. Of being a fulltime artist, Jordan says ‘it is a challenge being a native Hawaiian artist trying to participate in the art scene in Hawaii. My art does have roots in the Hawaiian tradition but it is my expression in today’s modern world’.

The timing of Jordan’s visit is fortuitous in that he will have the chance to participate several Pacific-related events in Auckland in March.

For more information or to arrange interviews with the artist, please contact:
Christina Jeffery
Tautai Trust Manager
PO Box 68 339, Newton, Auckland, 1145
Phone: 09 376 1665.mobile: 021 373 402

Prepared on behalf of Tautai by Anna King Shahab, freelance writer
annajustineking@yahoo.co.nz 0211587161 (09)6302480