Creative New Zealand and the Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies are celebrating the 15 anniversary of the Pacific Artist residency at the University of Canterbury. Applications for the residency award are now invited from established traditional or contemporary Pacific Artists in the fields of textiles, ceramics, painting, sculpture and the literary and performing arts. The residency was established in 1996 and aims to provide artists with an opportunity to develop new directions in their artistic practice. It also aims to support and promote the development of indigenous Pacific art in New Zealand. To provide the recipient with the time, space and facilities to develop their artistic practice in an academic environment, the award is tenable for a period of three months. The award is worth $15,000. The Artist will be required to reside in Christchurch for the duration of the scholarship and will be expected to contribute to the Macmillan Brown Seminar series and other activities. Past recipients of the residency include Tusiata Avia (2005), Sheyne Tuffery (2006), Johnny Penisula (2007), John Ioane (2008) and Kulimoe’anga (Stone) Maka (2009). This year’s recipient was Christchurch-based actress, musician, song-writer, playwright and manager of Pacific Underground, Tanya Muagututi’a. Applications close on 28 January 2011. For more information, contact Moana Matthes at moana.matthes@canterbury.ac.nz, ph (64-3) 36402957 or visit: http://www.pacs.canterbury.ac.nz/for/artists.shtml. (9 Heavens, 2008, John Ioane. Image courtesy of Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies)
The Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Weta Workshop Award for Creativity has gone to Auckland-born and Samoa-raised Samuelu Siilata. He received the award last Friday, 19 November 2010, at a ceremony in Auckland to honour high-achieving Pacific youth. Samuelu’s creativity encompasses poetry, music, dance, painting, carving, costume, design, screenwriting and more. But his real passion is film. Speaking about his award, Samuelu said “as soon as I heard about The Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Award for Creativity and the opportunity to work at Weta, with a paid internship, I knew this was an opportunity of a lifetime. When I found out I was one of the finalists I was just blown away – the interview was conducted by Weta creators and directors, Andrew Taylor and Tania Rodger. They gave me a full tour of all the studios – it was just an amazing experience.” Samuelu loves ancient history and culture and says he wants to bring those worlds back to life through the cinematic screen: “I believe that cinema audiences are looking for novelty – you see the effects of indigenous culture in huge blockbuster films like Avatar. My goal is to tell the stories that have not been told – Polynesian stories. I want to show and share these worlds which no one has ever seen before, worlds that, say, the first European explorers such as James Cook saw them. I think that would be amazing.” In offering advice to arts graduates, Samuelu said, “there are a lot of expectations about getting a job when you’ve finished a degree – but it’s important not to lose heart. I believe there’s a season for everything so this year has been a good year to take stock.” For more on this story, visit the Auckland University website.
A paid internship at world-renowned WETA Workshops, tuition fees at Auckland University or an overseas trip are still up for grabs for three outstanding young Pacific people – but they need to act fast as time to apply is nearly up. The offers are open to winners of the inaugural Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards, announced last month and open for nominations until 11 October. The awards are being administered by the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, although selection is by an independent panel. “We know that there are many fabulous young leaders out there in our Pacific communities – we would really like to see as many of them as possible take advantage of this opportunity,” Ministry chief executive Dr Colin Tukuitonga says. The awards are in three categories: Creativity, sponsored by WETA Workshops, Inspiration, sponsored by globally successful software company COGITA and Leadership, sponsored by top tertiary institution the University of Auckland. Nominees need to be 17-24, of Pacific descent with New Zealand residency, and able to demonstrate community involvement, integrity, and success in one of the three award categories. The closing date for nominations is 11 October, and winners will be announced 19 November. All information, including entry forms and details of the awards, can be found at www.pacificyouthawards.org.nz.
Sandra Tupu has taken out the top two awards at the recent 2010 Westfield Style Pasifika Fashion Awards. Her three piece collection, Tatau, won the Supreme Award and her menswear design of the same name took out second place. Judge Denise L’Estrange-Corbet said Tupu was a stand-out winner: “Her garments were modern, had quirky twists, which we always like, and blended together really well. It was a very commercial collection. It could be put straight into a store, and will sell, and that is what it is about.” Tupu is 45 and recently graduated from Auckland University of Technology where she earned a Bachelor of Design majoring in fashion specialising in menswear. Samoan tatau is the inspiration behind her winning designs. Speaking to the NZ Herald, Sandra said “the art of tatau is deeply embedded into Samoan culture and history and my collection explores this. It’s part of my heritage, my inspiration and my passion.” (Image adapted from the Westfield Style Pasifika website). The full list of this year’s winners is:
Supreme Award - Sandra Tupu (Titirangi, Auckland) – $3000
Runner up – Sandra Tupu (Titirangi, Auckland) – $2000
All category winners receive a $1000 Cash Award.
MAC Pasifika Body Art
Winner: Yolanda Bartram
Runner up: Jane Ellis
Youthtown Traditionally Inspired
Winner: Lindah Lepou & Louina Fifita (Mt Eden, Auckland)
Runner up: Kohai Grace (Porirua)
Resene Asia Pasifika
Winner: Vanessa Roscoe (Mangere, Auckland)
Runner up: Margaret Lewis (Westmere, Auckland)
MAX Three Piece Collection of Day Wear
Winner: Sandra Tupu (Titirangi, Auckland)
Runner up: Blaire Archibald (Mt Eden, Auckland)
NZAF Pasifika Hero
Winner: James Leuii (Westmere, Auckland)
Runner up: Naomi Spicer & Terry Whaitiri (Parnell, Auckland)
Flava Urban Street Wear
Winner: Margaret Lewis (Westmere, Auckland)
Runner up: Fa’afoi Robyn Seaso (Porirua)
Barkers Pasifika Menswear
Winner: Sandra Tupu (Titirangi, Auckland)
Runner up: Amber Bridgman (Dunedin)
getfunkd Hutt Evening Wear
Winner: Sharah Friis (Tauranga)
Runner up: Hayley Erasmus (Mt Maunganui)
Pacific Blue Pasifika Bridal
Winner: Debra Laraman (KatiKati)
Runner up: Visesio Louis Thomsen (Manurewa, Auckland)
Te Puni Kōkiri Parent & Child
Winner: Erna Van Der Wat (Rothesay Bay, Auckland)
Runner up: Hannah Blackburn (Palmerston North)
Credited for launching some of New Zealand’s finest design and performance talent, Westfield Style Pasifika returns at Auckland’s Vector Arena on Friday 3 September 2010 to light up New Zealand’s fashion world. As one of the country’s iconic events, Westfield Style Pasifika now features prominently on New Zealand’s annual fashion calendar. The show is a potent mix of traditional and contemporary fashion, music and dance featuring up to 200 of the country’s most exciting Pacific entertainers. Watched by a live audience of thousands and a television audience in the hundreds of thousands, Westfield Style Pasifika has become a highly anticipated event by designers and audiences alike. The event traditionally attracts a dynamic range of designs from throughout New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific and provides designers with an invaluable platform to showcase their talent. (Image of last year’s winning design by AUT fashion graduate Nadeesha Godamunne of Dunedin.)
Creative New Zealand’s third review of its Recurrently Funded Organisations (RFOs) is recommending that two feasibility studies be undertaken in the next year. The first is to look into a management company for dance and theatre companies, including Maori and Pasifika dance and theatre, to provide shared, cost-effective management and audience development services for smaller independent companies. The second study will look at a Pasifika arts development organisation to coordinate and provide capability building for Pasifika artists across a range of arts practice and to develop new audiences for Pasifika arts and artists. The review recommends that work on the feasibility of these initiatives be carried out in 2010–11 so that options can be considered by 2012, when the new multi-year investment programmes have been implemented.
 Fresh Gallery Otara is proud to present the highly anticipated first solo exhibition of Czarina Wilson, an award winning young designer with over ten years of experience creating boundary pushing garments for Westfield Style Pasifika, Villa Maria Cult-Couture and the Montana World of Wearable Arts competitions. In her first solo exhibition, her works examine the struggles of being hafekasi and negotiating acceptance from both Tongan and Pākehā communities. The exhibition opens on Thursday 18 March and runs until 10 April 2010. An interview will feature on Tagata Pasifika on TVNZ One tonight. For all exhibition enquiries, email Nicole.Lim@manukau.govt.nz or call 09 271 6019.
(Image courtesy of Fresh Gallery Otara)
 Award-winning Auckland designer Visesio Louis Thomsen presents a selection of garments in this stunning exhibition. Inspired by traditional processes and materials, his garments include Samoan textile as well as Western fabrics. White tapa and fine mat make up wedding gowns and evening wear along with silks, satins and delicate organdie. In 2008, Louis won the Villa Maria Cult-Couture Premier Award as well as the Matrimonial Bliss category. In 2009, Louis won the Evening Wear section for Westfield Style Pasifika as well as the Manukau Designer Award at Villa Maria Cult-Couture. This exhibition includes his award winning garments as well as new designs. The exhibition opened on 5 March and continues until 3 April 2010 at the Mangere Community Arts Outreach Service (Tuesday – Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 9am – 3pm).
 Adi Koila Ganilau McBride is the guest international designer at the 2009 Style Christchurch fashion extravaganza. Adi Koila will be showcasing her Marama Dina Label alongside other New Zealand and international labels including Zambesi, Sakaguchi, NOM*D, Stitch Ministry, Aduki, Annah Stretton, and Emma Ford Swimwear. The show also features performances by Ladi6, one of several Pacific laureates at the recent New Zealand Music Awards. Under the creative direction of Fijian stylist Andhy Blake, Christchurch’s premier fashion event is part of New Zealand Cup and Show Week. It stages at the Isaac Theatre Royal on 12 November 2009. For more details visit the Style Christchurch website.
(Image courtesy of Style Christchurch)
 ART (Arts Regional Trust | Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi) and The Big Idea | Te Aria Nui warmly invites interested individuals to attend a unique, forum, expo and networking event: “Survive & Thrive: sustaining creative projects, organisations and businesses in challenging economic times.” Participants will hear from leading creative entrepreneurs, their success stories, and their views on present and future opportunities. The forum presents an opportunity to connect with peers and other influential people from a variety of backgrounds and sectors. Organisations that are the supporters, motivators and the backbone of the Auckland region’s creative sector will be on hand to help artists, producers, makers and doers to deliver. Entry is free. However, places are limited, so registration is essential. Contact details: RSVP to margaret.lewis@thebigidea.co.nz by 2 November with each person’s name, email, creative discipline and whether you require lunch.
- When: Monday 9 November 2009 – 11.00 am – 4.00 pm (expo, networking and lunch from 11am, forum starts at 1pm)
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