Four students of James Cook High School in Manurewa are taking their first major steps towards a career in the arts as they exhibit their wood carvings at the “Fresh08 – Best of Fresh Gallery Otara” exhibition in South Auckland. Bo Graham, Metz Eno Tito, Mathew Laban, and Priscilla Tata, worked under the guidance of John Ioane at James Cook High School to produce refreshing yet meditative pieces. John Ioane is a graduate from the Elam School of Fine Arts. He has taught art, sculpture, painting, and installations for many years. He has work in the permanent collections at Te Papa and Auckland Art Gallery and has exhibited in New York, Australia and New Zealand. He is a past winner of the Creative New Zealand Pacific Award for innovation and excellence and was earlier this year, the recipient of the Pacific Artist Residency at the Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies (University of Canterbury). The James Cook students are exhibiting their work alongside other artists at the Fresh Gallery Otara. The exhibition runs from 28 November to 20 December 2008, 5/46 Faimall, Otara Town Centre.
Bo Graham, Metz Eno Tito, Mathew Laban, Priscilla Tata, wood carvings made under the guidance of John Ioane at James Cook High School, 2008. MDF, shellac. Courtesy of the artists and Fresh Gallery Otara. Photo by Ema Tavola.
