pasifika styles 2006

Festival time

2007-05-02T02:35:00.000+12:00

Well its finally happened the festival is coming our way, it's been a hard road and we had to postpone the Museum day due to lack of funds but better to do something well than do it with a few tressle tables and some workshops with a few sandwiches thrown in for the performers!!!!!!! The theatre component is strong so looking forward to seeing it all start to unfold. Well I think I have recovered from last years effort, even remembered my password so I can blog some more..so be back atcha

The Exhibition...afio mai

2006-09-13T22:16:00.000+12:00

Images Gwil Owen

George Nuku

When you enact your culture you don’t need to translate your culture anymore. You should say something clearly to the other world before you present your culture.

As much as there’s taonga in a museum, the reasons our ancestors made them isn’t in the museum. So we should just carry on making, and stop crying about what we don’t have and how that’s stopping us from living - stop grovelling to the big guys in the big house so we can have our stuff back.

I feel sorry that the taonga aren’t breathing like they would out in the garden or wherever, getting damaged and getting sweaty Maori hands fondling them and snot and tears all over them and being kissed and stuff.

But come on man, do you honestly think a lock and key and maybe a reinforced door is going to contain the power that those things represent? It’s like trying to bottle air mate, it’s impossible!

Outer Space Marae (2006)
Carved acrylic plastic

Image Gwil Owen

Michel Tuffery

The museum’s almost like a marae or a church. There’s a spiritual side. I don’t go to church, my own church is just going to the galleries or going to spaces with really interesting things to say about the objects. It’s mainly what the object does to you. It’s actually up to the individual to come up with their own way of bringing it alive.

Insects from Samoa (1988)
MDF board sealed with oil-based ink

Lau mea ola Laiti (1988)
MDF board sealed with oil-based ink

Fa’a Samoa Matai (1988)
MDF board sealed with oil-based ink

Samoan Kai Moana (1988)
MDF board sealed with oil-based ink

Pili Pili Pili Siva (1999)
MDF board sealed with oil-based ink

Halfcasting Samoan Fishingman (1999)
MDF board sealed with oil-based ink

Trading Fish from Samoa (1999)
MDF board sealed with oil-based ink

Image Gwil Owen
Francis Upritchard

Francis Upritchard was born in 1976 in New Zealand, and now lives and works in London.

Jealous Saboteurs (2005)
hockey sticks, plastic, modelling materials

Image Gwil Owen
Tracey Tawhiao

Symbols are in us all. They are a memory of our creation inherited from our blood. If we go back far enough into our memory bank the entire human race is a collective symbol. My paintings are a photograph of my memory. If you see something familiar the chances are it is because we are all indigenous to creation. This feeling is fundamental to showing my work.

Heart Infection (2006)
mixed media on canvas

Chris Charteris

Before I start making, I think about what sort of energy I wish to portray. In making these works I have contemplated what would be appropriate for a chief or a person with big mana to wear. What would have enough power, status and impact. These are set-aside objects made for a particular purpose. If purpose is there, it affects the material whether pounamu (greenstone) or plastic.

Wasekaseka (2005)
clear perspex and linen

Wedding Lei (2004)
totorere "large ostrich foot" shells, nylon

Image Gwil Owen
Shigeyuki Kihara

What people see with me is the surface of what’s being presented to them, but not necessarily what you would call 'reality'. I am Polynesian, I am Asian. I appear publicly and live as a woman within my male anatomical body - also known as Fa'a fafine in Samoa, and 'third gender' is the closest western interpretation.

The Fa'a fafine work questions the western classification of race, gender and sexuality. I can never fit into them, but at the same time I ask myself - are they worth fitting into?

Fa’a fafine: in a manner of a woman (2005)
Photographic triptych; C-type photographic prints and mixed media

Courtesy of Shigeyuki Kihara and the Sherman Galleries, Sydney, Australia

Image Gwil Owen
Niki Hastings-McFall

Who judges what’s authentic and what isn’t?! I think it’s very dependant on the times you’re working in.

We’re all in some way or another migrants at some stage, and I think that makes for a different take on things, rather than if you’ve been born in the same country as your ancestors for ever and ever.

Dad’s Chair (2006)
synthetic fabric lei flowers, armchair, ashtray, lamp and printed slide image

Portrait of artist with work, Sherry Roberts
Hemi Macgregor

In reality, appropriation is a social mandate in New Zealand mainstream society: 'what is mine is mine and what's yours is mine too’. To help 'them' (which is us) is not to give 'them' (us) what 'they' (still us) want but to give 'them' (us again) what 'we' (not us) think 'they' (us) need.

Urge, Purge Pure (2004)
embroidered hooded sweatshirts

Image Gwil Owen
Nick McFarlane

I have become a cultural magpie. When I deal with New Zealand's cultural identity in my work I am drawing on all of the history of the land as 'I am' a New Zealander and that is forever. I look toward my European ancestry, towards its culture, traditions and history and then try to rework it with a New Zealand angle.

Wealth gap division (2004)
Hand-stitched leather, broken glass, frame

Domestic violence cycles (2004)
Hand-stitched leather, frame

Savaged culture (2004)
Hand-stitched leather, broken glass, frame

Image Carine Durand

Filipe Tohi

Lalava has been used for every Pacific island. This is the technology that they use, for building canoes, fishing, making nets, all kind of things they use. I have started to transform the lalava into different forms.

Lalava is an ancestor of the computer. It's very mathematical, very scientific. We look at the pattern as just decoration, but in the old days it was the language of communication, that is life also.

Tupu'anga (ancestor, origin or source) (2005)
plastic

The Hard Cases

2006-09-13T21:06:00.000+12:00

Image Sherry Roberts

Image Gwil Owen

Image Gwil Owen

Image Gwil Owen

Maureen Lander

Much of my artwork has been inspired by objects in museum collections and by the many and varied ways in which these objects are displayed and interpreted. Even more intriguing are the many items that remain “kept in the dark” in museum storage cupboards. Discovering them is like meeting old friends for the first time – a sense of recognition and sadness, and an urge to bring them back into the light and give them new life through referencing them in my art-making process.

This is not a kete (1994/2006)
harakeke (New Zealand flax)

Tane Raises his Eyebrows (2006)
mixed media

Mixed Bags (2002-2006)
mixed media

Image Carine Durand

Image Gwil Owen

Image Carine Durand

Lisa Reihana

It’s interesting territory for an artist to work in a museum; they have collections - rich and loaded material. It’s not the blank canvas that a gallery usually presents.

We call treasured artefacts ‘taonga’. Pasifika Styles allows me the opportunity to show people these aren’t just objects, they embody the life blood of our living culture.

fluffy fings (1998)
Horns, dyed chicken feathers, ostrachionte shells, lead crystal, fur, textiles

he tautoko (2006)
DVD, headphones, audio, and tekoteko figure collected by Baron Charles von Hügel, probably at the Bay of Islands, New Zealand (CUMAA 1939.70).

Hongi Hika BA (Cantab.): “an emblem of wisdom” (2006)
College scarves, goat hair, braid

Image Gwil Owen

Image Carine Durand

Image Sherry Roberts

Wayne Youle

Museums are that of kind hush-hush, clean, untouchable, tapu kind of space. You wanna touch everything but you can't. It's a thing I'd like to explore, like what's behind all those boxes.

Hahea (2006)
light box

Te Manawa (2006)
light box

Jack (haki) in the box 1 (2006)
sound box with cd player on continuous loop

Jack (haki) in the box 2 (2006)
sound box with cd player on continuous loop

Thanks to the magic of religion and television 1 (2006)
pine box with security TV

Thanks to the magic of religion and television 2 (2006)
pine box with DVD player

View of Reihana and Youle installations-Image Gwil Owen

The Streets

2006-09-13T20:19:00.000+12:00

Image Gwil Owen

The streets has a nice couch a place to sit and contemplate the exhibition Ani Oneills Etu iti lei hanging like a big smile in the void between the Maudsley Gallery below, as well as a chance to listen to the artist interviews that Sarah Robins produced for us ..they are all on the website as well...so go get a cup of tea and check them out

Image Carine Durand

Ani O’Neill

I think that even though people may not see my work as political – it is. I want to re-ignite something inside the viewer that they may have forgotten existed; the 'Pacific Island way' of creating the world. I want the viewer to feel something subliminally – the flipside to 'paradise'.

’etu iti (2006)
Mixed media: kikau (Coconut midrib), feathers, raffia, shells, seeds, beads, sequins, videotape, re-cycled plastic, wool.

Thank you to the following contributors:

Samiyah Ahmed ,Shasoi Ahmed ,Jade Barnes ,Lucia Bayo,Rumena Bégum,Katrina Black ,Naomi Bloor ,Esther Brassett
Rosie Brazier,Matthew Brazil,Thomas Brierton,Leah C. Pearson,L.D Chris Cadiente,Sophie Cape-CornellClaire Cart
Sienna Cattigan,Tahsin Choudhury,Jake Crown ,Alexandra Day,Robert Day,Jordan Delanay,Carine Durand,Taylor English
Sarah Fuller,Lois Goddard,Lily Graham,Nathan Green,Lewis Harford-Page,Sally Haiselden,Eva Herle-Schaffer,Rohini Kahrs
Nasima Khatun,Sami Kourbaj,Andrew Lamport,Andrew Lawrence,Aran Lomas,Cameron Mackay,Ryan MooreJoseph Perry
William Proud,Cerys Rees,Rosanna Raymond ,Lisa Reihana,Alex Riches,Poppy Richmond ,Mel Rouse,Archie Sweeney
Poppy Tabbran,Millie Tipple,Kit James Turner

Image Gwil Owen

Reuben Paterson

The power and vision our ancestors used to create their pieces inhabits our new worlds of the contemporary, and through our new world, we can still inhabit theirs.

Slaughter something innocent (2006)
glitter on canvas

Everywhere you go, you always take the weather with you (2004-05)
glitter on canvas

Leaving (2006)
glitter on canvas

Me at Home (2006)
glitter on canvas

Image Gwil Owen
Jason Hall

The do-it-yourself repatriation kit (2006)
Club hammer, red oxide, briefcase

Image Bethany Edmunds
Suzanne Tamaki
Maniapoto, Tuhoe, Te Arawa Maori iwi (tribes)

I view wearable arts and costume as a vehicle to convey a story. Traditional inspired body adornment, music, movement and image express the ever evolving culture of Maori. Our links and journeys woven together in the past, the present and into the future.

Aotearoa: Land of the wrong white crowd (2005)
Lambda print, photographed by Greg Semu

Old School Blanket Styles (4 June 1885)
Photographed at Heaerehuka, King Country by Alfred H. Burton
Courtesy of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Bi-cultural Rap Re-mix (2006)
Recycled and restructured New Zealand blankets
Wool blanket stitch trim and pom poms, feather collar, wool hat with feather trim

Image Gwil Owen

Bethany Edmunds

My cultural heritage is my inspiration for my artwork. … My blood is Maori. It’s from this whenua as are the materials that I work with. My histories tell me that I am related to my environment and the materials that I use. The generations that we speak of go back into the beginning of time and that gives me the licence to do with these materials and these ideas and these stories as I would interpret. Our culture is an ever-evolving culture and so we utilise our environment. In this day and age we are living in an urban environment so we utilise the materials and resources that are available to us.

pART mAOri (2006)
denim on hardboard

Image Gwil Owen
Jeanine Clarkin

My inspiration comes from traditional Maori costume like korowai cloaks, maro (which are loin cloths) and also some of the kapahaka (Maori group performance) uniforms, the pare and piupiu which have evolved since colonisation. I've managed to create these garments that are inspired from those images but are worn just down the street with jeans and t-shirts.

Papatuanuku Skirt (2004)
Denim and fabric ink

Rarangarangatahi Jacket (2004)
denim

Apron with Tangata Toa ta moko print by Gordon Hatfield (2006)
Denim and fabric ink

Image Gwil Owen
Kewana Duncan

As part of a tribal people I have strong notions of ownership. Our culture is based on collective ownership and as a collective we fiercely defend our resources and intellectual property.

Fulltime Revolutionary was inspired by the mass movement of people against the confiscation of the seabed and foreshore of Aotearoa (New Zealand). There has come a time when we must defend our resources from corporate plunder and we will do so as kaitiaki (guardians) of our land.

Fulltime Revolutionary (outfit of clothing) (2005)
denim and cotton

Cloaksuit (2005)
denim

The Audio Visual Room

2006-09-12T23:18:00.000+12:00

Image Gwil Owen

Sheyne Tuffery (2)

In ancient Polynesia, birds had an important part to play in everyday life. There was spiritual and material wealth to be gained from their inclusion and respect. For example the name Samoa: "sa" is sacred and "moa" is bird.

I definitely feel like a New Zealander with Samoan heritage, but I know more about Maoridom now, than I do about Samoan culture but that's ok with me, cause I was born and raised in Aotearoa.

My Father is Kiwi/European from Taranaki, and my mother is from Samoa, so I am getting lots of different perspectives.

Manukau: place of wading birds
DVD, 3 mins 30

Image Gwil Owen

Rachael Rakena

We tend to define things as either Maori or Pakeha (New Zealand European) and actually a lot of us spend a lot of time moving between the two, but there is no label for that and it is not a fixed place.

I have returned to the swimmer in the past couple of years to explore the idea of a person existing and moving in a space without certain references. A void space in-between. There is no reference to land, there is no place to stand.

Rerehiko (2003-05)
single-channel video with sound, 2 mins 55 sec

Mihi Aroha (2002)
single channel video with sound, 3 mins

Pacific Washup (2003-04)
A collaborative work with Fez Fa and Brian Fuata
Single-channel DVD with sound, 6 mins

Rerenga Pounamu (2004-05)
A collaborative work with Otene Rakena
single-channel video with sound / pounamu, 12 mins

Image Gwil Owen

Lonnie Hutchinson

The intricate red patterns in Lonnie Hutchinson's moving image work Red (2002) symbolises earth, whenua, pigment, Papatuanuku the earth mother. And yet despite the 'ruddiness' infusing Red; the accompanying soundtrack is Santana's rendition of the smooth classic song 'Black Magic Woman'. For black is the colour that pervades all of Hutchinson's practice; from her sculptural cut-outs into building paper to the inky brushstrokes of her drawings.
Emma Bugden
Red 2002
DVD

Image Gwil Owen

Louise Potiki-Bryant
The word ‘whakaruruhau’ means shelter, so its talking about the shelter of a whare nui, which is a meeting house on a marae, which is place where a community of Maori people would live. It was a double meaning, of shelter of the house, and a particular auntie in my family who was a ‘shelter’ for the young people of that area.
This whare nui was burnt down in an arson attack and was being rebuilt in 2003. It was an urban marae. In the 1960s, when a lot of Maori moved into the cities and were maybe out of their own … it was a place for maybe a whole iwi or a tribe to meet in the city or it was a pan-tribal marae so many tribes would be able to be tangata whenua on this marae in a city away from their tribal areas.

Whakaruruhau (2005)
DVD

Image Rosanna Raymond

SOUTH : VIDEO PORTRAIT : 2005 PART ONE OF TWO

PRODUCED, DIRECTED + EDITED: JAMES PINKER + MARK McCLEAN

FILMED ENTIRELY ON LOCATION IN OTARA, MANUKAU. AOTEAROA/NEW ZEALAND. 2003.

Thanks to Wahine Malosi Charitable Trust + Manukau School of Visual Arts

Previous exhibitions:
Face Value : Brisbane Museum, Australia.
Face Value : New Media Pacific Portraits. COFA. Sydney Australia.
Te Tuhi Gallery, Pakuranga, New Zealand.
Artnet Gallery, Otara. New Zealand.

Promotional photograph on CD taken in Otara of:
(L) Mark McClean + (R) James Pinker
by Rob McEldowney (2005).

James Pinker James Pinker is a sound and multi-media artist living in Auckland. His work in this exhibition is from a collaboration with English artist Mark McClean. 'SOUTH' is a photographic project that features images made in a portable studio in Otara, South Auckland in 2003. Over a period of two days they randomly asked people to have their photograph made. South has been shown at Te Tuhi gallery, Auckland and at the Ivan Docherty Gallery in NSW, Australia. " It is very rare to do a snapshot of a community in a positive way. We came up with the idea when eating fish and chips in Otara. This is the community that wandered past on those days; we didn't include or exclude anyone. We wanted to focus on the actual people, the positive". James Pinker, 2005.

Eyeland Part 2-Welkome to da K'lub

2006-09-12T23:01:00.000+12:00

Image Gwil Owen

Image Gwil Owen

Image Carine Durand

Image Carine Durand

Image Carine Durand

Image Gwil Owen

Image Carine Durand

Rosanna Raymond

Looking at a taonga (ancestral artefact) that is so familiar, yet separated from its original place and purpose can be a frustrating and painful process, especially if you feel connected to it, spiritually.

I feel a strong bond to my ancestors when I meet “artefacts”. It is like a direct line opens up with my cultural heritage, the past becomes present.

Working with museums and collections can help bridge the gaps that have opened in the process of housing, collecting and writing about indigenous peoples over the past 200 years. They could be arenas for cultural exchange, going outside the boundary of the space into everyday life.

Eye land Part II: Welcome 2 da K’lub (2006)
mixed media

The Living Room

2006-09-12T22:58:00.000+12:00

Portrait of artist Ani Oneill-Image Sherry Roberts

Portrait of artist Tracey Tawhiao-Image Sherry Roberts

Tracey Tawhiao and Ani Oneill collaborated to create and decorate the Living Room....every Museum should have one!!!!!

Image Gwil Owen

Image Gwil Owen

Image Carine Durand

Living Room with Bethany Edmunds on screen-Image Bethany Edmunds

We have a documentaries showing...Represent... specially comissioned for Pasifika Styles, Directed and Produced by Lisa Taouma and using the footage of my interviews...thanks AHRC......nice to see the voice of the artists coming through as well as a context for the exhibition, also the work of Mandrika Rupa and more works coming through make sure you take time to watch them

Mandrika Rupa

Laxmi (2000)
35mm, 12 mins

An Indian diasporic look at what it is to live in colonial New Zealand, in 1942 wartime, when ANZUS soldiers from the United States were stationed there. A coming of age story of an Indian girl who realizes why her family prefer the prejudices of a free country to the caste injustices of what they left behind.

Taamara / Sangam (The joining of two peoples) (2002)
Beta SP, 58 mins

Maori people of New Zealand give an account, in their classical language, of a time when a group of Indian men came and settled in their tribal area in the early 1900s, and how their families became woven together, up to the present generation.

Living room with Greg Semu photography
Image Carine Durand

Living room with Greg Semu on screen-Image Gwil Owen

Greg Semu

The crucifix image is an iconic image and copyright. It’s something that everybody knows. Tatau (traditional tattoo) is a Pacific icon, which belongs culturally to every Samoan. There are a few people who think that the Samoan icon should stay in Samoa. So it’s a conflict if you want to share your culture with the world.

Untitled, 2006
elaborated black & white photographic print

Untitled, 2006
elaborated black & white photographic print

Untitled, 2006
elaborated black & white photographic print

The Maudslay Gallery

2006-09-12T22:56:00.000+12:00

The Maudslay Gallery

Image Gwil Owen

Donna Campbell

I aim to implement the technology of the art of raranga to create works that carry the mana of weaving and speak with the voice of the urban modern Maori. As a practitioner and teacher of raranga for many years I am constantly inspired by the complexity of pattern, and the commitment it takes to the craft. This work is one of a series of totem works reflecting the notion of body as container.

Pacific totem (2002)
harakeke (New Zealand flax), copper wire, wooden rods

Perpex Patu- George Nuku

Image Gwil Owen
Image Gwil Owen
Image Gwil Owen

George Nuku
When you enact your culture you don’t need to translate your culture anymore. You should say something clearly to the other world before you present your culture. Be very clear to them about what it is that you are doing and then do it and they will figure it out, because they will feel it. They will feel what you are trying to express in your culture and your world and if you translate that you’re almost saying to them that they don’t understand - you’re not putting any faith or any trust in those people.

Patu, Carved Perpex 2006
Taiaha, Carved Perpex 2006
Tewhatewha, Carved Perpex 2006

Portrait of artist with work, Sherry Roberts

Chris Charteris

Before I start making, I think about what sort of energy I wish to portray. In making these works I have contemplated what would be appropriate for a chief or a person with big mana to wear. What would have enough power, status and impact. These are set-aside objects made for a particular purpose. If purpose is there, it affects the material whether pounamu (greenstone) or plastic.
Wasekaseka (2005)
black perspex and cotton
Kouma (2005)
pounamu and coconut fibre
Savageware (2005)
pounamu and coconut fibre

Image Carine Durand
Natalie Robertson and Hemi Macgregor

Maui really got around, that wily adventurer. Didn’t need a travel agent or passport to be a border-crosser in those days. No customs to get through, just the locals, and well, there were ways and means to get around them. He wasn’t remembered as Maui of Thousand Tricks for nothin’. Maui’s most useful strategy was his abilities as a change agent, a shapeshifter. Taking the forms of fish and fowl, Maui could get around the gatekeepers and satisfy his insatiable curiosity.

Tales of the Maori Border (2006)
wood, portable DVD players, DVDs

Image Gwil Owen

In ancient Polynesia, birds had an important part to play in everyday life. There was spiritual and material wealth to be gained from their inclusion and respect. For example the name Samoa: "sa" is sacred and "moa" is bird.

I definitely feel like a New Zealander with Samoan heritage, but I know more about Maoridom now, than I do about Samoan culture but that's ok with me, cause I was born and raised in Aotearoa.

My Father is Kiwi/European from Taranaki, and my mother is from Samoa, so I am getting lots of different perspectives.

Manu tawhiti tahi (2006)
digital print on vinyl

Manu tawhiti rua (2006)
digital print on vinyl

Sa-Moa (2006)
digital print on vinyl

The Opening

2006-08-22T21:11:00.000+12:00

Invite designed by Delete UK, Photography Kerry Brown

Well we were all to busy to take photos of the opening as we were in the moment, so I haven't got many images for you.... so thanks to Sherry Roberts for her images that she was taking for Black magazine and to Josh Bell for his ones as well ....the night was packed with all sorts of wonderful people and the museum was hot hot hot, almost on fire!!!!.....the Pasifik sure came to visit us that night.....and just look at thoses ataahua wahine..........not just pretty faces....Peter Gordon and his team from Providores was amazing..again, Tohu wine...yum yum...we can't thank them enough as well as Sarah-Janes' voleenter team......and all the staff at CUMAA as everyone put in so much... and to Creative New Zealand for helping getting the artists to the opening so they could sparkle and actually meet the poeple from here, we the living dynamic make the taonga from the collections shine and everything was alive

Images:Josh Bell

Images:Sherry Roberts

Images:Josh Bell

Images:Sherry Roberts

The Blessing

2006-08-22T20:44:00.000+12:00

The CUMAA Collections

2006-08-22T20:14:00.000+12:00

Thanks and praise to Carine Durand and Wonu Veys for images

CUMAA houses the second largest Oceanic collections in the UK, and they were responsible for Pasifika Styles happening as we wanted to reconnect the artists with the taonga and show how creativity in Aotearoa today is living and dynamic and though hundreds of years may have passed the bond is there, the spirit...they just needed some visitors to warm them up from their cold slumber. Wonu was amazing working with the all the artists who wanted to meet the taonga, she made sure nobody missed out..a big job considering we were installing at the same time.

Image Carine Durand

Image Wonu Veys

Image Wonu Veys

Image Carine Durand

Image Carine Durand

Image Carine Durand

Image Carine Durand

Image Carine Durand

The Outer Space Marae

2006-08-22T01:20:00.000+12:00

Thanks and praise to Carine Durand for images

This one was touch and go due to all sorts of logistical issues bringing 1/4 ton of perspex over to the museum from Aotearoa to name a few...weight been the main issue with installing the whare as the old building is fragile ..anyways we got there .....watch Nuku go and its beautiful..anyways here's a look at the installation of the Outerspace Marae by George Nuku...with his tautoko Dan and Omeka...it wouldn't of happened with such haste and tender loving care

The artist arrive and we start installing

2006-08-22T00:13:00.000+12:00

Thanks and praise to Carine Durand for the images

Wow all the artist worked so hard and were so patient with the ltd infrastructure of the museum, and helpful to each other...we couldn't of done it like did without them...mihi tautoko...mihi aroha...all the musuems staff and students helped us install every hand available was in action and we still had to do the Marae in Sky........

London Launch

2006-08-21T04:22:00.000+12:00

Thanks and praise to Carine Durand and Sherry Roberts for images

Well wish I had more pictures of this night...me thinks people were enjoying themselves and/or working to much on this night, but I have a special shout out to Aroha Rangi, as without her , the night wouldn't of happend, as Amiria and I were so comitted to the nuts and bolts of the opening and installation ....7 days later!!!!!!!! We had a packed house, a mixture of London art scene, NZ govt officials...gotta thank the High Commission to as they koha some wine and the space...the Penthouse of New Zealand House and the NZ London based community, artists, journalists, muso's..people who we hope would spread the word... Ngati Ranana who helped us make 120 lolly leis and gave us the use of their club rooms to work in on the night, as well as their presence on the night.....Beats of Polynesia who provided some yum yum, drum drum fun in the foyer and to Jerome and Ben who played Taonga Puoro in the welcoming area...where everybody got Lei'd......The Providores Restaurant did the catering...AWESOME kai, Peter Grodon and his crew...... they are amazing people, generous and had our guests gushing about the food.. and last but not least Tohu wines who provided many bottles of fabulous wine for the night.........anyways for all the tagata in Aotearoa..here's a glimpse...check the view

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Thanks and praise to Sherry Roberts for image

Thanks and praise to Sherry Roberts for image

The bevan lecture room...artist H.Q

2006-08-20T04:50:00.000+12:00

Many thanks for the images taken by Carine Durand and Andrea Balbo

The Bevan Lecture room for the students became the designated Artist H.Q and green room...away from the galleries and the noise of construction and out of the way of the working faculty.....it became a hive of industry and creativity and no doubt a few good laughs and conversation.......

Little stars and glitter painting

2006-08-19T22:13:00.000+12:00

Thanks and praise to Carine Durand for the images

Ani and Rueben were the first artists to arrive, as they were leading workshops and reaching into the community sharing their skills....so big ups to Sarah-Jane Harknett the museums' outeach officer who co-ordinated the outreach programme and to our ataahua artists for embracing this part of the project as well as creating their artworks

This ataahua image of Wonu and Carine taken by Sarah-Jane

The making of........

2006-08-17T23:15:00.000+12:00

Thanks and praise to Carine Durand for the images

The gallery before the incoming artists arrival, a quiet place except maybe the sound of my heartbeat starting to quicken and the whirl of my brain thinking of the next month ahead of me........building had been going on for a few months, creating new walls, freshening up the paint work and creating the shell for the living room....when the couches arrived we got very excited ...things were hotting up.......we also prepped the Bevan Lecture room for the incoming masses, as space is tight in CUMAA..it's only little and Polynesians....well we be large in all senses of the word

Pacific Multi Media artist

2006-07-21T08:56:00.000+12:00

Pacific Multi Media artist
Another woven audio visual tapestry by DLT and I ... ENJOY !! yahoo ... moana nui ....
Video Hosting - Upload Video - Photo Sharing

Podcast

2006-07-20T03:35:00.000+12:00

Malo latou,

Ok I am slowly recovering from the opening, confernce and pretty much the build up of the last three years, did my residency at Norwich with Hori and Filipe and it was great to be an artist again....but trying to get hold of all the fings Pasifika Stlyes and chasing leadsand a few loose threads that need to be firmly bonded into the beautiful magic that we created...its just the start now...........be interesting to see where it ends up,I will still be promoting the exhibition and we have had a few bites for touring, so a nice thought, also nice walking through the museum and seeing different sort of peoples in there, their numbers are up...so chur to us

here's a great interview that was on Australian National Radio, recorded by an old homie Brent Clough who came to Samoa with the Pacific Sisters many moons ago...enjoy

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/exhibita/default.htm

"Out of Space" Marae

2006-07-19T12:37:00.000+12:00

Video Hosting - Upload Video - Video Sharing
Video Hosting - Upload Video - Video Sharing
Video Hosting - Upload Video - Video Sharingwe move to the beat of our forebears
who sail the seas by the tempo of nature
navigating by the rhythm of the stars
partaking of tangaroa’s hospitality
ancient messages locked in the wood
patter out a tattoo for me
then out of the space
a place . . . OM 2001Hello one and all, here is the culmination of our first phase in terms of"Outer Space Marae" an installation by artist George Nuku in the UK.Darryl (DLT) and I (Ole Maiava) would like to acknowledge our fanau, our supporters.We'd also like to thank CreativeNZ's Pacific Arts Committee for the airfares, malo aupito.Malo George we are looking forward to "MOANANUI"for those looking for more vid clips please check out my blog site - www.olemaiava.blogspot.com
Video Hosting - Upload Video - Video Sharing

a Review

2006-07-18T10:20:00.000+12:00

Malo te whanau, thought I'd post this review by Paul Dance found on the 24hour museum website
says some great things !!!!

and a word in your ear -
"MOANANUI" the collective is about to roll in, in waves ...

ENCOUNTERING PACIFIC STYLE IN NORWICH AND CAMBRIDGE
By Paul Dance
29/06/2006

Paul Dance encountered Pacific style past and present at the Sainsbury Centre, Norwich and the Museum of Anthropology in Cambridge. Exhibitions Pacific Encounters and Pasifika Styles run at each venue, respectively, until August 13 2006 and February 2008.

After a 21-month revamp by Foster and Partners, the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts has re-opened at the University of East Anglia on the outskirts of Norwich. This art collection was made possible by the generosity of Sir Robert and Lady Sainsbury who, in 1973, donated more than 300 cultural objects and pieces of art. When it opened to the public in 1978 it had doubled in size and today contains in excess of 1,300 objects.
In the late 1970s Sir Robert said: “I never decided to become a collector … I have been a passionate acquirer of works of art that appealed to me irrespective of period or style.”

This shows in the main collection, known as the Living Area, where works are displayed with as little obstruction as possible between the item and the visitor and with little regard for inter-relationship.
Thus paintings by Francis Bacon hang on the walls and pillars, next to Giacometti drawings, 17th-century Indian religious art and Chinese paintings from 400BC. Many of the display cases allow the objects to be viewed from all sides, an unusual asset in a collection with such important items.
The current Pacific exhibition benefits from this accessibility, allowing us to see some of the beautiful carvings of fishhooks, stone totems and ceremonial staffs.

The exhibition covers items from the entire Pacific area, from Samoa to New Zealand and Hawaii. It helps to reveal how much difference there is between the various people of this huge area, which since the explorations of the 18th and 19th century that provided many of the items in this exhibition, has been largely ignored by Western Europe.
The angular design and atmosphere of the modern gallery contrasts sharply with the culture or environment in which the artefacts would have been created. While trying to envisage the places where they were made, I was lucky in getting a chance to eavesdrop on George Tamihana Nuku. George is a Maori teacher and artist who was guiding a school party around the exhibition, bringing the objects to life for them.
Heavily tattoed and wearing Maori traditional dress, George embodied the passion that I came to realise is such an important part of his culture. I spoke to him after his talk, while he was carving slabs of polystyrene into traditional Maori designs in order to build a Maori house in the lower gallery of the Sainsbury Centre.

He explained that the material was about keeping the culture alive and that he uses plastic and whatever he can to create his work, rather than the more traditional wood. This chimed with his comments about Maori beliefs of connectedness with the environment and his work in New Zealand (Aoteorea in Maori) with youngsters.
“It’s always great to spend time with these youngsters and get them to look at themselves differently,” he told me. “I tend to see them at about 15 years old, just before they would be going to jail.”
There's another exhibition of Pacific art at the University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Cambridge, with a more contemporary theme. Entitled Pasifika Styles, the first thing that strikes you as you enter the gallery on the second floor is a large (about 18ft wide by 12ft high) acrylic carving by the artist I spoke to at the Sainsbury Centre, George Tamihana Nuku.

George’s caption to his carving says: “Though it’s a shame to see this piece inside, away from the sweat of Maori hands, does anyone really believe they can contain the power of these pieces just by putting them indoors?”
The caption is passionate in a way we don’t normally see in galleries and the whole exhibition retains this quality of pride and visceral commitment to art as a way of life and connectedness to one’s past, present and future.
This attitude is echoed in other artists’ comments, which show no remorse about the loss of a culture or colonial appropriation but rather a fierce determination to keep their art up to date by using modern methods whilst not losing sight of the traditions that inform them.
This show, though small, has completely changed my view of what Maori culture is about and challenged my view of modern art. I cannot think of any comparable Western art that is so emotionally and completely connected with its cultural base whilst creating interesting and exciting works of art.

Sainsbury Centre for Visual Art, Norwich

University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, Norfolk, EnglandT: 01603 593199Open: Tues-Sun 10.00-17.00 Weds until 20.00Closed: Mon & Christmas

Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3DZ, Cambridgeshire, EnglandT: 01223 333 516Open: Tues-Sat 1400-1630Closed: Bank Holidays 1 week Christmas & Easter

s'up ?

2006-06-21T11:35:00.000+12:00

hey whanau
been thinking about what we as pacifican artists can contribute to this exchange between mother england and us emmisaries of our tupuna from the pacific ... speaking recently with darryl and pita turei we spoke of mythology and history
this next article is written to expand on that korero, I have been told that the Tuhoe (a first nations clan) people do not have a sailing history because they grew out of the ground. [ correct me if I'm wrong ]

Wouldn’t it be good when Pacific history is no longer considered myth.

As its Matariki time I thought I’d create a new theory of the world to celebrate the Maori New Year.

I was going over my whakapapa on my mothers’ side, which my grand father - whom I’m named after – diligently collected. It traces through forty - two generations before it gets to me. Reading through the names is like a who’s who of so-called Samoan mythology according to people like Henry or Kramer. Then lo, an idea struck me, I could cross reference the European versions of our stories with my family tree and see how close they get it?

What a revelation, some of the books refer to quite a few of my bloodline, eg Pili the so-called progenitor of Samoa or further back to my ancestor – who they say is myth - Rata and his magic va’a - they even got that story wrong and Rata was not the name he was born with, in fact there were two brothers - but that’s another story.

This made me think further, if European history is correct and our history is myth then how come the scientific world is slowly coming around to Pacific thinking and so-called mythology? I make my point thus; in many Pacific cultures we talk of ancestors bubbling out of the ground, or oozing out of the ground. We’ve spoken of having fish and bird ancestors, thousands of years later there’s the theory of evolution as portrayed by Wallace and Darwin.

In Samoa as well, there are stories of how inside the earth, turned a burning sea that seeps out of the ground and rose to form Samoa, - the sacred center-.thousands of years later, Western science comes up with plate tectonics, of undersea transform faults, occurring as the earth grows under the ocean.

So, extrapolate that thought, if life first bubbled up here, then it would make sense to say, that life would have grown close to the source, which then could mean, what we Samoans have been saying for a long time.

Samoa is the center of the world and all mankind grew from the Pacific, even if I have to claim as protozoa, we left our breeding ground and found ourselves all throughout the world.

Western civilization laughed, when we talked about lands being fished up by ancestors, they called it myth, yet base their calendar on a man, who could walk on water and rise into the sky after being dead for three days.

So, as we can trace our ancestry back to protozoa and oozing rock does that mean, we can claim all the lands of the world?

Maybe I’m like my other tupuna, the king of Manu’a? In Cooks time, they saw fleets from Hawaii and Tahiti calling to pay tribute (uumiti) to the king of Manu’a.

So, I’m still waiting for my uumiti from the world leaders as the king of Manu’as’ heir and if that doesn’t work then I’ll claim Taranaki, which belonged to my Ancestor Lu or Ru, but that’s another story …Happy Matariki … Ole Maiava from Porirua.

Potential poster image

2006-03-01T11:58:00.000+13:00

Greetings all, really want some feedback on this asap, so we can move forward with the visual identity.....We are aware that people may have sensitivities about the use of taonga Maori such as tiki in these contexts, and would therefore be very grateful for your guidance on this issue. We are also asking a number of other people, incuding Merimeri Penfold, Aroha Rangi, Kylie Ngaropo and Karl & Kateia Burrows.

The tiki is from the CUMAA collections, he was bought off a collector Webster in London by Baron von Hugel the museums first curator in 1907......thats all we know about him...I see him coming into the world of light, re-connecting to the living aspect...you fullas... and binding Maori with the Pacific and also giving a strong Maori presence in case people don't realsie Maori is in the Pacific!!!!!!...the tusks are from Samoa and my arm again the living dynamic

so don't talk to the hand...blog on

Up and running!

2005-12-14T00:01:00.000+13:00

Hi everyone, kia ora tatou, especially to those of you I haven't met as yet. I'm hoping to meet you all in the next wee while and get your thoughts and ideas down on tape for this massive audio podcast project I stuck my hand up for!
I managed to interview 15 of you on my last trip to Aotearoa, and have been furiously transcribing and editing ever since. Thank you to everyone that made my time for me, shared yourselves, fed and watered me and generally coped with having the mike up close and personal. I got some great material and now have the huge task of bringing it into a managable format .. well, I needed a summer project to work on!
I'm hoping to get to Windy Welli and maybe Christchurch too, plus get around the people I missed last time in Auckland - probably in mid/late January. Meanwhile, happy happy, merry merry and all that ending of one year, starting of another sentiment.

(Sorry Ro - no photo this time, will hunt one out for next time I promise!)

Sarah

Jedi Knight

2005-11-08T01:08:00.000+13:00

Big congratulations to Ioane for the Arts Pasifika Pacific Innovation and Excellence Award!

Click on the title of this post to find out more about this achievement.

CNZ Press Release

2005-11-06T06:34:00.000+13:00

Well, Well well, the hype is starting guys, things are starting to move faster ....faster.....faster.....we have just finished a document for creating a visual identity and Delete Graphics here in the UK have agreed.....FOR NO MONEY....to hep prepare some images and new logos etc so Mike can go chase some big fish and I can start to dangle a line to the media here in the UK....so any stuff you fullas want to say ....please go for it...and go fast!!!!!! I am wanting to appeal to the art world here and have been going to art fairs and galleries and picking artist brains here and next week we have a very important meeting with the UK Visual Art Dept...

I checked out the Frieze Art Fair......my god it was mind boggling, it was like going to the Big Day Out in terms of numbers attending and hundreds and hundreds of the major galleries from Europe, the States and UK....Australia/ NZ not a peep and the competition was fierce...droppping £60,000 on a work was considered mid range (now times that by 3)!!!!!!! Art stars, hype, sex by the gallon, wank(sometimes literally), good art, bad art art art art art art arghghghgghghghghggh...there is so much art in the world its amazing....what the fuck do we need it for...yeah theres a good question for ya!!!!!

WHAT DO YOU GUYS WANT OUT OF THIS EXHIBITION...... I mean we are a platform and just one....and to really make an impact here is hard without serious pot loads of money or by living here and working through the networks...we are a hidden voice....an old colonial past...we are almost ghosts........it is really going to interest me in who and what is picked up upon here...as you never know in this town...one thing for sure is we will be needing the hype.......and sex

so get sexed up and ready for an interesting ride

AND FOR FUCK SAKE START BL0GGING...its as eay as an email

http://www.creativenz.govt.nz/news/whatsnew.html?record=1892

www.delete-uk.com

http://www.frieze.com/

Yum yum yum

2005-10-30T02:41:00.000+13:00

Yahoooooo! NZ super-chef Peter Gordon has very kindly offered to cater our Press Launch and Exhibition Opening festivities! Peter is one of the three Providores www.theprovidores.co.uk who have a beautiful cafe and restaurant on Marylebone High Street in London called THE TAPA ROOM.

THANKS PETER!!!

AWESOME AUCTION

2005-10-29T07:05:00.000+13:00

Huge congratulations to Brenda, Yuki, Billie and everyone involved in the Artists' Auction. We've heard many reports from excited and satisfied customers of what a fantastic night was had by all!!!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH to Objectspace, Kim Crawford Wines www.kimcrawfordwines.co.nz, Waimata Cheese and Delmaine Fine Foods www.delmaine.co.nz for their support.

Keep it in the whanau

2005-10-24T21:17:00.000+13:00

Introducing our mate Mike Weston (the one on the right) from the Area Artist Management, who I think most of you know already.

Mike (Billie's partner, obviously) has kindly agreed to act as our global media and sponsorship agent to help us launch Pasifika Styles on the world stage.

This means he is working his ass off to get us some more pingas from the big boys! He is also looking after our press profile, which takes a huge load off me and Rosanna's shoulders, and is a much-needed shot in the arm for our fundraising efforts - yay!

watch out we're coming!

2005-10-20T08:27:00.000+13:00

Malo te whanau

Well, we got our first letter back from Creative New Zealand and its a go for Darryl Thomson and I to come to the opening of Pasifika Styles !!

Which means we can come and show/talk about our film collaborations as well as shoot our next collaboration there at Cambridge, so big ups to CNZ's Pacific Team!!

Hopefully we'll start hearing more exciting news from the rest of the crews.

We just need some firm dates and we'll start booking the tickets. Alex, I'll give you a buzz on the landline soon to arrange meetings with Escape Artists et al.

Well back to the grindstone, and looking forward to the mahi.

much love/energy/thought
Ole and Darryl

2005-10-11T12:56:00.000+13:00

Kia ora and Greetings everyone,

This is a kind reminder, that If you are one of the artists involved in the Pasifika Styles project and would like to participate by donating artworks towards the Pasifika Styles Art Auction please state:

Your name
The title and description of artwork you’re donating
Reserve price of your art work[s]
Acknowledgement of your gallery

…and please send the details above to duskygeisha@yahoo.co.nz ASAP

Important Dates to Remember:
Friday 14th October: Email Yuki to confirm your participation and list details of donated artwork[s] at outlined above.
Monday 12-24th October: Contact Yuki and arrange a time to drop off your artwork[s] at Suite 7, 63 Great North Rd, Newton.
Tuesday 25th October: Art Auction at Objectspace, 8 Ponsonby Rd, Newton starting at 7pm.

!! Start the ‘buzz’ by letting friends and colleagues know about the Art Auction !!

For further information on Pasifika Styles Art Auction please contact organisers:
Shigeyuki Kihara email: duskygeisha@yahoo.co.nz
Brenda Railey email: brendarailey@hotmail.com

Current Sponsors: Objectspace and Kim Crawford Wines
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ART AUCTION 25 OCT 05

2005-10-11T12:51:00.000+13:00

For immediate media publicity release - please spead this to your networks - thanks! Brenda and Yuki

PASIFIKA STYLES: ART AUCTION

Held at Objectspace, 25th of October Tuesday, 7pm

Enjoy a fun night out at Objectspace in Ponsonby with the chance to purchase original Pacific art, enjoy great wine and food and know you are supporting a contingent of well-known Maori & Pacific Island artists attending the Pasifika Styles festival at the University of Cambridge Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology, Cambridge, U.K.

The purpose of the art auction is to raise funds to support the artists participating in the 'Pasifika Styles' exhibition. The art auction is a way of addressing the shortfall to cover airfares, accommodation and living expenses involved in attending an international art project.

The artists currently involved in Pasifika Styles are:
Chris Charteris, Bethany Edmunds, Jason Hall, Niki Hastings-McFall, Lonnie Hutchinson, John Ioane, Shigeyuki Kihara, Maureen Lander, Hemi MacGregor, George Nuku, Ani O'Neill, Reuben Paterson, Louise Potiki-Bryant, Rachel Rakena, Rosanna Raymond, Lisa Reihana, Natalie Robertson, Greg Semu, Suzanne Tamaki, Tracey Tawhiao, Kahu Te Kanawa, Michel Tuffery, Sheyne Tuffery, Wayne Youle, Brenda Railey and weavers.

Background
Pasifika Styles is a major exhibition-festival project to be launched in Cambridge in April 2006, celebrating contemporary Maori and Pacific Island art and culture from the UK and New Zealand (NZ). The exhibition, showcasing the work of NZ-based artists and craftspeople alongside the Museum's unparalleled Oceanic collections, will be mounted at the University of Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (CUMAA) and open to the public for a minimum of 18 months. There will be a spectacular opening protocol involving selected artists with accommodating public programs held throughout the exhibition. For more information on Pasifika Styles exhibition please refer to: http://www.pasifikastyles.org.uk/

Art Auction co-organisers Brenda Railey and Shigeyuki Kihara are encouraged by the wonderful support from both communities. 'The Pasifika Styles Art Auction follows in the Polynesian kaupapa of 'alofa/aroha' as to looking after each other, where artists come together collectively and unite in helping to raise funds so that there are equal opportunity for all project participants to engage in a exhibition of a significant international scale. When the times comes to return the favour - then we will return the 'alofa/aroha' for those who equally need support' says Kihara.

Art Auction Information:
Date: Tuesday 25 October 2005
Where: Objectspace, 8 Ponsonby Road, Newton.
Opens: 7 pm
Auction Starts: 7.45 pm - 8.45 pm
Payment Options: Cash and Internet available

Pasifika Styles Art Auction sponsors: Objectspace and Kim Crawford Wines

PLEASE SPREAD THIS EMAIL TO YOUR FAMILY, FELLOW COLLEAGEUS AND FRIENDS - AND COME AND JOIN US FOR A NIGHT OF ART AND FUN!

For media assistance, please contact:
Shigeyuki Kihara
For more information please contact:
Brenda Railey

Happy Birthday to me

2005-10-01T22:23:00.000+12:00

Malo lava latou , this could be anywhere in the world...but it is at my whare in Ranana...Ingarangi....Billie got some time from the whanau and travelled around the world and popped by for my housewarming and birthday bbq bash....(don't even ask how old)yo some fun was had after hard blah on how many jobs we can twist Billies' arm to do....yeahaaa we love Billie....much thanks and praise for dedication to the project, your tautoko is much appreciated.

Well you know I wasn't going to put this one on but can't resist... these are two awesome old skool friends, they have played in the dirt together....cute aye

21st CENTURY AOTEAROA

2005-09-24T03:12:00.000+12:00

Malo lava latou,

We have a bit of a plug for us on the The Edge site check it out and spread the news..............just click on the title to view the website feature

http://www.nzedge.com/features/ar-pasifika_styles.html

Art Auction 25 October 2005

2005-09-11T02:08:00.000+12:00

Greetings all,

Longtime no see, but Brenda Railey and Shigeyuki Kihara have a great announcement to make:

Pasifika Styles Art Auction is held at Objectspace on Tuesday 25 October 2005

There will be more details to come closer to the date, but at least you can lock the date down in your busy diaries for now.

For those who may not be able to attend the art auction Yuki has offered her Suite 7 studio space (thanks for Natalie Robertson and Ani O'neill whom we all share the Suite 7) to store your artwork on your behalf for the art auction. Please let me know if you are sending artworks in advance.

Thanks for all your enthuciasm and kindess in donating works towards the Pasifika Styles project, so that the proceeds from the art auction can go towards supporting artists participanting in Pasifika Styles.

Thanks and kind regards,

Brenda Raily and Shigeyuki Kihara

(Co organisers of the Pasifika Styles Art Auction)

PACIFIC HORIZONS

2005-09-07T00:17:00.000+12:00

This be the flyer for the PACIFIC HORIZONS WORKSHOPS I am working on.......Cuming Museum is a very very small Museum in the heart of South London, very community education based....yeah babies South Side reprezent.....England has the highest teenage birth rate in all of Europe and the Borough of Southwark..(my hood) has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in the UK........The project is two parts really ...I am curating the Taonga for the Exhibition..so I am working with the historical collections and focusing on Body Adornment...textiles, tatau, taonga puoro will be featured, and running a series of workshops (this starts in Nov-Feb) for the youth to end up making their own jewellry collection which will be exhibited alongside the exhibition...

PACIFIC HORIZONS Opens 28th February 2006 and will be up when you fullas are all in town.....so will be a pleasure to have you all visit.....and awesome that you will be able to help enhance the visibility of the Pacific in South London

Anyways this blog feeds into the AIM OF THE NAME GAME futher down so make sure you have a good gander at that one...its after all the pretty photos I put on

AFRICA RE MIX

2005-09-06T23:47:00.000+12:00

Samuel Fosso

Great link to a tour of the show have as squizz........ go on click on the title of this blog now and have a look at the tour of the gallery

A huge show I was walking around counting up all the multi media installations and huge big rooms with massive sets must been an awesome installation/pack in!!!!!! ..200 works by 100 artists it was divided in to three kaupapa driven areas each area was colour coded

IDENTITY AND HISTORY.................red
BODY AND SOUL..................blue
CITY AND LAND.......ochre

REMIX- "a musical metaphor to highlight the "hybrid nature" of African Creativity" Simon Njami head curator......

Interesting that we can't manage to ditch the Hybrid word...hmmmmmmmm anyways the curator has lots of issues we are exploring...so have a good look on that site as lots of food for thought......I feel a metaphor coming on!!!!!!...and this is another AIM OF THE NAME GAME related blog

Go get a cup of tea...you have a bit to read....but lots of pictures to look at as well

http://www.universes-in-universe.de/specials/africa-remix/english.htm

ME HOMIES

2005-09-06T03:11:00.000+12:00

Well off the plane, into the artworld we went to Fatus' opening nice and warm there...we got thrown out of the Lane Gallery...obviously weren't going to spend some money and she wasn't going to waste any of hers on us!!!!!! didn't she know who we think, we think we are...... but big ups to Shayne and Michel for the wicked works

Boo yakka char...Bethany and Hori and Eye in da fale

Cute aye...Ani, Hori and Eye at Fatus' opening

GOOD MOURNING DR HENARE

2005-09-06T02:49:00.000+12:00

THE GOOD...THE BAD...AND THE......HUI

2005-09-06T02:12:00.000+12:00

Mr Wayne Youle

Ms Shigeyuki Kihara and Ms Natalie Robertson

Ms Tracey Tawhiao

Ms Natalie Robertson and Mr Jim Vivieaere

Ms Maureen Landers and Mr Che Wilson

Ms Suzanne Tamaki and Ms Ani Oneill

Ms Mandrika Rupa

Ms Brenda Railey

Mr Shayne Tuffery and Ms Bille Lythberg

Mr Jason Hall and Mr George Nuku

TIKI'BILITY

2005-09-06T01:50:00.000+12:00

Ms Suzanne Tamaki, original art work by Mr Wayne(I think I was Pacific Sister'd)Youle

THE AIM OF THE NAME GAME

2005-09-06T00:24:00.000+12:00

I found this session really useful and though we came up with all sorts of fantastic names steeped with the deep and the playful....... after letting them all sink in I am still coming back to PASIFIKA STYLES...not that it is a great name for the NZ context but in the context of where we are and who we will be talking to....I like its simplicity...maybe its the imagery that surrounds it we can work on.

Here's my favs from the session

MATA MOANA...........native eye.........eyeland..........
PUU MOANA......... the call from the Pacific.........the wake up call

AUTHENtikaTION...........heehee very stylee........EYEDENtiki ISSUES

PASIFIKA STYLES.....actually you know I prefer Pasifika Stylee...might be a bit street for over here??

To me this name immediately places us which I feel is really important but is still not to specific ie not Aotearoa...not Samoa, not Tonga but alludes to the Pacific and encompasses us all...the ability too imediately take the person whether young, old, niave, or polynesian specialst to know where they are heading to........going to Africa Remix made me think alot about this....you can read more about Africa Re mix in a spearate blog........all the tribes and languages they had to emcompass in the title and they chose a very simple title...the works did the rest

http://www.universes-in-universe.de/specials/africa-remix/english.htm

Anyways here are some examples of titles for projects I am also working on here in Ingarangi, please note I didn't choose the names but again they have used the concept PACIFIC to place us...and to me it is important, as here we are a drop in an ocean they are not familair with as mama Africa and the vast ranging Asian continents as well as the Afro Carribeans already have a visual landscape...

PACIFIC VOICES...Story telling tour of the UK with Rangimoana Taylor.....15 date all over the UK

PACIFIC HORIZONS.....Exhibition with historical collections and workshops for underage pregnant youth using the Pacific collections as inspiration

So in my mind the public here are starting to be exposed to the concept of the PACIFIC....but their sense of VA with us is not yet established and that my friends will start when you guys arrive and something the UK Polynesian communites are already engaged in....Ngati Ranana, Manaia, Sistar Spacific, Kiribati and Tuvalu Association and a monthly club nite called Spacific to name a few

Manaia and I did a workshop last week and when we asked if anybody knew where the Pacific was we had all sorts of answers somewhere in Australia Africa, Asia Hawaii...lucky we had a map as 98% of the room didn't know...so some very basic education is needed to thhe general publics....

Anyways need some comments on this so come back at me

Museums and Art II

2005-08-26T18:38:00.000+12:00

And of course... (also at Auckland Museum)

Sunday 28 August 3pm

TE MOANANUI A KIWA IN RESPONSE: James Pinker

Sound artist James Pinker presents a new work, composed in conjunction with Sean Cooper, in response to the exhibition, with Tony Waerea on saxophone and Lisa Reihana, voice. Main Gallery - free performance.

Museums and Art

2005-08-25T15:06:00.000+12:00

You can go along to the Auckland Art Fair seminar series at the Auckland Museum to tautoko Natalie, Yuki, Niki, Jim, Jason and others as they talk about the influence of museum collections (among other things) on their work:

Thursday 1 September until Sunday 4 September
APEC Room, Auckland Museum, Free with Entry Donation
3pm – 5pm each day

Thursday 1 September MAORI ART
Artists: Robert Jahnke, Gina Matchitt, Natalie Robertson
Convenor: Paul Tapsell

Friday 2 September PACIFIC ART
Artists: Graham Fletcher, Niki Hastings-McFall, Shigeyuki Kihara
Convenor: Jim Vivieaere

Saturday 3 September JEWELLERY
Artists: Alan Preston, Areta Wilkinson, Jason Hall, Pauline Bern
Convenor: Philip Clarke

Radio NZ International

2005-08-22T10:30:00.000+12:00

Hey, we just featured on the programme "Pacific Dateline" on Radio New Zealand International, beaming out across the Pacific!

You can hear the interview by visiting their website: http://www.rnzi.com/index.php and downloading the 21 August programme.

Destinations exhibition

2005-08-22T10:17:00.000+12:00

Big ups to the crew showing their work in the "Destinations" exhibition as part of the K-Road Fringe Art Festival. The show opens on 23 August at the Methodist Church Hall, Pitt Street, and features many of the artists involved in Pasifika Styles - congrats to the all of you.

L'art urbain du Pacifique

2005-08-20T20:54:00.000+12:00

hey you fullas,

well what another adventure for me, after me got home had to get my works framed for the exhibtion in France and mates.... made it by one day as nothing happens fast over here in London town, packed up the kids and was off to St Auvent in the deep south of France...felt nice to be on the train and relax as was still recovering from my most amazing time in the big apple and the PAA conference which I may add was amazing...but that is another story......check out the link that Jenny Fraser has created on her website (just click on the title of this blog) and that will give you an idea of the show, it taught me soooo many lessons...especially re freight and the hassles and damage it can do to works travelling...so me crossing fongers we will be on track as work was turning up when the opening was happening etc etc...Greg and Rachel Rakena were there and Clinton and Jenny from the ozzie crew...the castle was cute but the language barrier and a highly stressed out castle owner made for entertainment of the stressful kind.....including not much food for big poly appetites...well apart from Greg!!!!! thats how he keeps that slender figure of his n'est pas!!! and the owner of the caslte calling Jenny a half breed and asking if we had contemporay art galleries in NZ!!!!!! oh yeah we have so much work to do....opening was interesting and some people came as far away as Geneva and Paris and one from Spain(it was only down the road) to see the show so there is an interest.....we then drove to Paris in convoy, Rachel and the Brown Bunch stayed with Greg in his tiny appartment and did the tourist thing which was amazing, Paris quite simply ROCKS. So when my computer behaves itself will put some pictures on......but check out the link and guess what someone has put an offer to buy Full tusk at 1500 euro which I am considering as asking a bit more as losing 30% but thrilled that someone wants to buy something and that is still over $3000 NZ......I must add because Yuki and Lonnie weren't there I didn't want to perform and I was begged to perform as it was already on the programme...well did the most half arsed performance I have done in a long time and they still loved it!!!!SHAME on me...but so easy to impress when it is strange and exciting to people

Now I went to one of the most inspirational exhibitions I have seen for years at the pompidou center I had missed it in London and was thrilled to see it in paris AFRICA RE MIX so unbelievably awesome 100 urban African artists, took us 3 hours to soak it all up like Africa so diverse so challenging ...really thrilling ... really tough...kids loved it to....and that got me thinking sabout the name and how simple it is and how it placed the show imediatley for the viewer as mama africa so complex...will try and find some links for the show, we have alot in common though with the show and nice to see the urban finally been given a very big place to be seen

well me recovering from some surgery and feeling a bit wasted but when I think of my month away , its a wonder I can even string a sentence together, so me signing off

enjoy

ro

Aloha!

2005-08-08T11:32:00.000+12:00

From the sunny slopes of Haleakala, Maui, where I have temporarily relocated the Pasifika Styles office (other branches may be found in Brixton, London, and Cambridge, UK).

Thinking of you all!

xo Amiria

Au revoir

2005-08-04T01:33:00.000+12:00

Right that's it, I'm all packed up and ready to take off for Hawai'i tomorrow morning!

Thanks heaps to everyone for all your enthusiasm and hard work in paddling this mighty waka out into the bay - soon we'll be tackling the open sea and hauling up some great big fish together over in England!!!!

See you in Cambridge, and meanwhile on the blog....
xo Amiria

Kia ora all

2005-08-02T16:54:00.000+12:00

just testing the tech knowledge but che all good (in the the hood) planing something important to say as we speak Hemi

Raffle progress - Waimata rulz

2005-08-01T19:42:00.000+12:00

Waimata Cheeses of Te Tairawhiti / Gisborne are supporting our art auction raffle with a donation of beautiful cheeses for the hamper - so put some of their yummy black "taepo" (brie rolled in ash) in your shopping basket next time you're at the supermarket - yay for the whanau styles!

oles malaga - wot, innit?

2005-07-31T23:39:00.000+12:00

malo peeps

inner resting place u dudes hang!

well just stretchen ma fingers ...
good to arrive ...hope alls cool wit u all ...
I'm still playing with this baby as i begin to unnerstan
its many uses
so I've decided that, this post will be like my diary of thoughts leading up to participation somewhere . . . all comments and interjections/corrections will be welcomed.

chur
ole

O

made it

2005-07-29T21:17:00.000+12:00

what a mission the site is not mac friendly so after a mission and mates I don't have much patience for this kinda fing made it...........How's the name fingy...loving the ioeau fing but it still will need a subtitle so people over here will know what they are coming to...as remember we are competing with mama africa, asia...that's all of Asia...India and Chinese and Afrocaribean who have huge already established visual landscape and ties with the peoples here....well will try this and push button ...now

SUP my nigas!

2005-07-29T10:53:00.000+12:00

Kia ora all. Just wanting to see if I can work out this technology, you can call me old but you can't call me stoopid! HOLLA at ya!

Art Auction Ideas

2005-07-28T18:15:00.000+12:00

Hello everyone,

Amiria and Billie here. We just had a fundraising brainwave - how about a raffle, to be drawn at the art auction?

RAFFLE ????

Amiria has family in the wine & cheese businesses, so we thought of raffling off a hamper or two (1 with wine, cheese, fruit etc., 1 with high-quality cosmetics, clothes, accessories, music etc. sponged from prospective sponsors / supporters.... any ideas/contacts please email to Amiria)

ART RAFFLE????

From the hui, we also recall that people were concerned about those on low incomes being out-bid at the art auction. How about raffling (rather than auctioning) off one or two works? That way, everyone can buy ticket(s) - say $2 each and have a chance of winning.

The advantage is that we can sell ***millions*** of tickets prior to the auction, and then draw the raffle as part of the auction celebrations.

Billie is happy to coordinate this process, if everyone else is happy to help sell the tickets - what do you say?

Pasifikas United

2005-07-20T11:32:00.000+12:00

Just testing this step by step for our crew to we-blog.
ah! it might be easy as tahi-rua-toru real soon for all you with itchy blog'n fingers!

How are we going on the name?

2005-07-20T00:07:00.000+12:00

Kia Ora Tatou!

It has been just over two weeks since our hui and its great to have our ball rolling steadily forward with funding applications due soon and ideas and collaborations for site-specific works in motion.

We all decided that it would be good to come up with a new name for the show as 'Pasifika Styles' is still the working title. There were a few fantastic suggestions at the wananga, and a few must be lingering in peoples minds, or seeded some new shoots to see, so here now is a forum to bring forth our ideas for a new name! To begin, a fantastic suggestion from our group pasifikastyles email today, by Tracey Tawhiao:

"How are we going on the name. Am in love with IOEAU cos it is the english vowels with a Maori twist. "Creation and I..." Is that not amazing, the very soul of all language says that to US...We are joined by that before colour and war". (Tracey Tawhiao)

All thoughts and comments welcome, another seed is planted to flourish and nourish! Don't be shy, let your ideas find the sun and blossom on this shared page : )

Yoo-hoo...

2005-07-19T05:20:00.000+12:00

...from Cambridge-UK. Hi Ro and Ami - Alex here. This is really quite cool... great tool for keeping in touch, thanks for setting it up... Ok just testing, back to work now. Cheers.

Haere ra, see ya later, tofa!!

2005-07-11T12:31:00.000+12:00

Bye Rosanna, hope you have fun flight to New York. It was great to see you, twice in one year, how cool is that?! The hui was inspiring and we're looking forward to keeping in touch with you. Hope the PAA conference goes well in Salem and that some funding comes through to help support you in this endeavour.

Arohanui, pai ra,

Ani and Natalie xx

And the lyrics to Haere Mai... Sam Freedman, 1952

Freedman's song was designed to welcome tourists, with an "doodly-doo, doodly-doo," echo-the-leader style of tune which was popular in the 1950s, (Ha E Re Mai - "Ha Airy My," Ev'rything is ka pai -"Ev'rything is k'pie") and with a few phrases of Maori well-known to Pakeha of the time, haere mai, ka pai (good), pai kare ("by golly").

Published in 1952, it was perhaps written to welcome Queen Elizabeth II who had just been crowned, and who was scheduled to do a Royal Tour of New Zealand in 1953 ("Throughout the land, we want to shake your hand").

1. Ha-ere Mai!
Ev'ry-thing is ka pai!
You're here at last,
You're really here at last.

2. Ha-ere Mai!
Not a cloud in the sky,
To coin a phrase,
This is the "day of days".

Bridge.
You're welcome as the sunshine,
You're welcome as a king!
Pai kare! This is one time
We'll really have a fling!

3. Ha-ere Mai!
Ev'rything is ka pai!
Throughout the land,
We want to shake your hand,

Coda.
Ha-ere Mai!
We're proud of you, that's why.
Ha-ere Mai!
Ha-ere Mai!

Maori Lyrics by Sam Kareti
Kareti's less well-known lyrics for Freedman's song are written in simple Maori phrases, to greet Maori guests. It should be sung more slowly and with more feeling than the English version.

1. Ha-ere Mai!
Te manuhiri e!
Kua tae mai koe,
Ki te tautoko e.

2. Ha-ere Mai!
Tena ra koe e hoa.
Ka nui te koa
Te kitenga i a koe

Bridge.
Mauria mai te aroha
Me nga aitua e
Kia tangihia e tatou
Kia ea ai nga mate

3. Ha-ere Mai!
E manaaki nei e
Matou i a koe
No reira kia ora

Coda.
Ha-ere Mai!
Nau mai ra e hoa!
Ha-ere Mai!
Ha-ere Mai!

Come hither
visitor!
You have arrived
to give (your) support.

Come hither!
You are here friend.
Great is the happiness
at seeing you.

Bring love
in these troubled times.
We are all weeping
that the dead may be satisfied.

Come hither,
you have bestowed prestige on us.
We say to you
once again "Kia ora."

Come hither!
Welcome friend!
Come hither!
Come hither!

Post testing

2005-07-11T11:22:00.000+12:00

checking out the technology...

heading towards cambridge

2005-07-06T12:49:00.000+12:00

maybe one day this will grow up to be a big, fat blog.