Teaching #PacificArt in #SouthAuckland

on April 4, 2013

My regular Cultural Ambassador update on Radio New Zealand Nights this month was a discussion on the experience of teaching a paper called Pacific Art Histories: An Eccentric View at Manukau Institute of Technology in Otara, South Auckland. I also discussed my perceptions of the new Fresh Gallery Otara look and its place in the Otara Town Centre.

Nights on Radio New Zealand (3 April 2013)[audio http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/ngts/ngts-20130403-2038-arts_-_pasifika-00.ogg ]

Photo by Adrian Evans
Photo by Nicole Lim

Fresh 2.0 #SouthAuckland

on March 26, 2013

Fresh 2.0

Fresh Gallery Otara was established in May 2006 by Manukau City Council in partnership with the Otara community in South Auckland. As the manager and driver of Fresh, I produced 66 exhibitions from 2006-2012; I invested my blood, sweat and tears into the Gallery and loved my job but in June 2012, I left the role. The then Curatorial / Gallery Assistant, Nicole Lim took the reigns and has overseen the Gallery’s recent refurbishment and significant expansion.

This week, Fresh Gallery Otara re-opens as a new space under new leadership. I have unwavering support and loyalty to Nicole Lim and I can’t wait to see her first show in the new space.

Juan Castillo is a Chilean artist who produced a multifaceted work called Minimal-Baroque in 2006 as part of his residency at what was then Manukau School of Visual Arts. He collaborated with Otara artist, Leilani Kake to film a series of vox pops at Fresh Gallery Otara, asking members of the community and visitors to Fresh, “What is Art?”

The video is a historical and fascinating insight into community perceptions of the word ‘art’ – I’m so glad Nicole has chosen to re-show it.

Francis Falaniko, photographed by Vinesh KumaranVinesh Kumaran is a long-time collaborator and his input into Fresh Gallery Otara, SOUTH publication and the Pacific Arts Summits has been significant. His excellent series shot for the exhibition South Style (2009) is being re-shown and like Minimal-Baroque, exists as a historical record of South Auckland social history.

Fresh 2.0 is an exhibition that recognises the legacy of Fresh Gallery Otara, its significant relationships with Manukau Institute of Technology’s Faculty of Creative Arts (previously known as Manukau School of Visual Arts) and its enormous potential as a hub for creativity in the heart of grassroots South Auckland.

Great job, Nicole and go well, Fresh!

Ōtāhuhu: Arts, culture + community

on March 18, 2013

I invest about a fifth of my time into community projects, one of which is the Ōtāhuhu Arts and Culture Sub-Committee of the Ōtāhuhu Steering Group. I’ve been a member for the past two years and the Secretary for past nine months. The South Auckland suburb is a hotbed of arts and culture; the collective aims to raise awareness, connect creative and cultural practitioners and lobby the Council to establish a dedicated arts facility for the community.

We have a young blog: http://otahuhuartsandculture.com/
And an emerging following on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OtahuhuArtsAndCulture

This Saturday we’re excited to be part of the Ōtāhuhu Family Fun Day at Fairburn Reserve. We were involved in the Christmas festivities and facilitated a recycled Christmas card making activity with local children.

On Saturday we’ll be making lolly and ribbon garlands and presenting a series of art demonstrations including Niuean weaving, traditional Indian Mehndi and aerosol painting!

Some great events happen in Ōtāhuhu, one of which is coming up this week. On Wednesday 20 March, the Ōtāhuhu Library is hosting a debate between students from McAuley High School and De La Salle College on, South Auckland: Is it where I want to be?

This promises to be an excellent event; it kicks off at 5.30pm. Congratulations to Ōtāhuhu Library for facilitating such an exciting discussion – I can’t wait!

For more information on Ōtāhuhu Arts and Culture join us on Facebook!

Tanu Gago, Artist Talk, #SouthAuckland

on March 14, 2013

Source: http://www.flickr.com/people/Serentonin

South Auckland new media artist Tanu Gago is giving an artist talk at 1.30pm, Friday 22 March at Te Matariki Clendon Library, Manurewa, South Auckland.

He will be discussing his recent work and interests in the representation of Samoan masculinity. Tanu is a trained film maker who has been making gallery-based video and photography work since 2009. Since his first solo exhibition, YOU LOVE MY FRESH (2010), he has gone on to show at City Gallery Wellington, Fresh Gallery Otara, Auckland Art Gallery and the Harris Gallery at the University of La Verne, California. His 2011 series, Jerry the Fa’afafine is on permanent display at Mangere Art Centre – Ngā Tohu o Uenuku in South Auckland.

“Leo”, Jerry the Fa’afafine series (2010) by Tanu Gago with Vinesh Kumaran

I’m excited to see Tanu speaking about his work within a South Auckland context; I’m taking a group of students from MIT Faculty of Creative Arts and we’re all relieved we don’t have to go to Auckland for what promises to be a grounded and engaging discussion relevant to Pacific people and South Auckland.

I ❤ Entrepreneurial Pacific Artists

I ❤ Entrepreneurial Pacific Artists

In the past two months I’ve come across a range of art products produced by entrepreneurial Pacific artists – something I love to see! Imagine if entrepreneurship and small business skills were taught at art schools! I love supporting artists who have a head for money-making!

Magnets, bags, lavalava and t-shirts… here is a small selection of some Pacific creative practitioners hustling in Auckland today!

FAF SWAG lavalava designed by Tanu Gago
TabanaYayaTotes by Tabana be Design
T-shirts by Gary Silipa
Magnets by Molly Rangiwai McHale
Magnets by Molly Rangiwai McHale and Luisa Tora
FAF SWAG T-shirts by Tanu Gago

FAF SWAG

FAF SWAG is an online LGBT community honouring Samoan fa’afafine identity. FAF SWAG t-shirts and lavalava are designed by Samoan new media artist, Tanu Gago.

Tabana by Design

Tabana by Design is a collaboration between Martine Stowers and her father. They have collectively produced a range of homeware, totes and make-up bags. They are GORGEOUS!

The Good, The Bad

The Good, The Bad is the brand of Samoan artist Gary Silipa. I’ve been a fan of his work for a while and love his TGTB Symbol t-shirt.

Tepora Malo

Tepora Malo is currently completing a Bachelor of Creative Arts at Manukau Institute of Technology. In 2012, she printed a series of lavalava and sold them at Otara Market. I came across them and loved them straight away! She now stocks Mangere Arts Centre shop located at the corner of Bader Drive and Orly Ave, Mangere, South Auckland.

Magnets by Molly Rangiwai McHale

Molly Rangiwai McHale produced a series of magnets featuring illustrations for Auckland’s recent Big Gay Out festival.

#ConcealedAncestors until 23 February

on February 20, 2013

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Fijian-Mãori artist Margaret Aull’s solo exhibition, Concealed Ancestors ends this Saturday 23 February at Papakura Art Gallery, South Auckland. A massively well-received exhibition, only three of the nine works on paper are unsold.

During the exhibition, Margaret presented an excellent artist talk on Saturday 9 February, and also managed to present some impressive new work in her end of year assessment exhibition at Whitecliffe College of Arts & Design where she is currently studying to complete a Master of Fine Arts.


Well done, Margaret!

It was a pleasure to work on this project alongside co-curator Nigel Borell. Margaret is a super organised and professional artist; helping her deliver this beautiful solo show was a joy!

“An enduring rootedness”, @NZListener

on February 20, 2013

I wrote a review of the recently published Art in Oceania: A New History (Thames & Hudson) for The Listener (16-22 February 2013). The Listener is New Zealand’s weekly current affairs and entertainment magazine covering the political, cultural and literary life of the country.

#Twerk #SouthAuckland #ExpressYourself

Artist Ema

This is an ongoing project inspired by the #ExpressYourself social media campaign promoted by American DJ and producer, Diplo.

  • How Diplo’s #ExpressYourself campaign took on a life of it’s own… Read more here

In an effort to create a contribution to the campaign’s ongoing afterlife, I collaborated with artist Leilani Kake to photograph each other upside-down-twerking at various South Auckland locations. The perceived sexualisation and physicality of our bodies viewed from this angle has inspired feedback that reflects a broad range of attitudes from shock and shame to empowered support.

I have long been interested in the politics of fat, of brown skin and the male gaze. I’m interested that this series of photographs confronts and disgusts some people and empowers others.

Whilst making these photographs, Leilani and I have discussed body confidence, spatial politics and South Auckland… the ‘colonised butt’. As an experimental project existing as part performance / part virtual, it has been refreshing and engaging. The #ExpressYourself campaign is an engagement strategy I’m interested to reflect and weave into future projects.

#SOUTH Issue 2 on @RNZNights

on February 3, 2013

Print

I love being the South Auckland / Pacific Arts cultural ambassador for Nights on Radio New Zealand. In January, we discussed SOUTH – a publication I have co-edited with Nigel Borell. Issue 2 of SOUTH was launched on 12 January at Papakura Art Gallery and is available for free at art centres and libraries throughout South Auckland. We’re really proud of Issue 2 and excited to start entertaining new stakeholder relationships for Issue 3.

Listen to the full interview here:

Find SOUTH on Facebook here and read more about the cover image here

 

#ConcealedAncestors video

on February 3, 2013

This video briefly documents the journey of Fijian-Maori visual artist Margaret Aull from her Te Awamutu studio in the Waikato to her solo exhibition at Papakura Art Gallery in South Auckland. I co-curated Margaret’s solo exhibition, Concealed Ancestors with Nigel Borell; the exhibition features sculpture and works on paper and runs until 23 February 2013. Read more here.

This video was shot and edited by Leilani Kake and produced as an archival record with support from the Pacific Arts Committee, Creative New Zealand and Toi o Manukau.