Archive for the ‘Traditional’ Category
« Older EntriesTongan Cultural Giant – Futa Helu – Dies
Tongan cultural giant, Professor Futa Helu has died at the Vaiola Hospital in Tonga, aged 75. Renowned for his profound knowledge of traditional Tongan cultural expressions, Professor Helu was at the forefront of intellectual thinking about education and the arts in the Pacific. As a young man, Futa Helu studied at the Newington College in New South Wales and then attended Sydney University where he studied philosophy, English literature, mathematics and physics. Back in Tonga, he founded Atenisi University, an institution that championed innovative and critical thinking and which grew from a night school into a university that now confers Masters and PhD degrees. He was the author of several ground-breaking articles most of which were published in Critical Essays: Cultural Perspectives from the South Seas (Journal of Pacific History, 1999). Paying tribute to him, the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, Dr. Colin Tukuitonga said “He was truly one of the great academic giants of the South Pacific and our condolences go out to his children and grandchildren.”
Island Summers: Historical Milestone for Pacific Arts
Island Summers is a Pacific arts exhibition that commemorates a decade of Christchurch’s Pacific Arts Festival. Curated by Stephanie Oberg, the show features a snapshot of art work from the last ten years of the city’s popular festival. Two accompanying exhibitions, “Tiare Maori” and “What-cha Say?” are a reminder that Pacific arts, both traditional and contemporary, continue to flourish in the garden city. The first exhibits the traditional Cook Island art of tivaevae and the relatively new but related art of cotton flower making. The second is an exhibition of talented young Pacific and Maori artists whose work sheds light on what is meaningful for young people today. It includes a video by Browhi productions featuring a local crew of shuffle dancers. Island Summers runs from 12 January to 10 February 2010, at Our City O tautahi, on Worcester St Bridge/ Oxford terrace in Christchurch.
Tenth Anniversary Brings Curtain Down on Christchurch Pacific Arts Festival
Pacific Underground will host the 10th and final annual Pacific Arts Festival in early February 2010. “Ten - Pacific Arts” marks a significant milestone for Pacific Underground, the Christchurch-based performing arts and events collective. Over the past decade, many Pacific artists from NZ, Australia and the Pacific have performed, displayed, demonstrated or created at this festival. Following its mission of supporting emerging Pasifika and Maori artists, Pacific Underground has organised an “all Ages” gig at the Bedford with several headliners including J Williams. The workshops at the Canterbury Museum return as does the Family Day at the Arts Centre on Sat 6 February. The Family Day features local Pacific musicians and dancers as well as the popular Adeaze and Mark Vanilau. Our City O-Tautahi will feature the final art exhibition for the festival curated by Stephanie Oberg. “Island Summers” explores the history of the festival as well as an exhibition of emerging artists.
(Image of Pacific Underground’s Pos Mavaega, from the Christchurch Music Industry Trust - CHART - website)
Weaving Group Unites Niuean families and Wins Pacific Heritage Prize
The Otahuhu-based Falepipi he Mafola Group has been awarded the Pacific Heritage Art Award by Creative New Zealand in recognition of its active community engagement with promotion of Niuean heritage arts. The group was formed 16 years ago to develop, maintain and promote the Niuean handcraft skills in weaving, plaiting, netting, carving and most importantly language. The group’s vision is to use art to rebuild, restore, and reunited Niuean families living in New Zealand. Past winners of the Pacific Heritage Art Award are: Kepueli Vaomotou (2004), Mafi Malaga III (2005), Tau Fuata Niue (2006), Dr. Okusi Mahina (2007), and the Enuamanu Maruarua Atiu Society (2008).
Image of “Lili” (wall hanging) by Tiresa Fasi, member of Falepipi he Mafola. 1990s. © Copyright Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
Master Craftsman Receives Prestigious Pacific Arts Award
Tongan master craftsman, Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi is the winner of the 2009 Creative New Zealand Senior Pacific Artist Award ($10,000). The Pacific Starmap champion was acknowledged for his outstanding contribution to the heritage of the traditional art of lalava and ‘mana’ within the community. His work is based on the ancient Pacific Island art form used for joining and binding materials such as houses, canoes and tools. Filipe Tohi joins other prominent artists as winner of the Senior Pacific Artist Award. They are: Johnny Penisula (2002), Albert Wendt (2003), Nathaniel Lees (2004), Opetia Foa’ai (Te Vaka) (2005), Jim Vivieaere (2006), Justine Simei-Barton (2007), and Igelese Ete (2008).
(Image from Pasifika Foundation Hawai’i website)
Creative New Zealand Honours Pacific Artists
Creative New Zealand presented Pasifika Arts awards to four Pacific artists and agroup of Niuean women whose work has made an outstanding contribution to Pacific arts in New Zealand. The 2009 awards were presented to composer Poulima Salima (Emerging Pacific Artist Award - $3000), to performer Elisha Na’otala Fa’i (the Iosefa Enari Award - $3000), to the weaving group Falepipi he Mafola (the Pacific Heritage Art Award - $5000), to artist Shigeyuki Kihara (the Contemporary Pacific Artist’s Award - $5000) and to master craftsman Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi (the Senior Pacific Artist Award - $10,000). Creative New Zealand’s Pacific Arts Committee Chairperson Pele Walker said the annual Arts Pasifika Awards celebrated the rich range of Pacific art in New Zealand. “Every year we are thrilled and delighted with not only the calibre of artists nominated but the range of artistic fields that they work in. The Pacific experience in New Zealand is unique and these awards enable Creative New Zealand to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution these artists make to the flourishing New Zealand arts landscape.”
Survive & Thrive: Invitation for Auckland’s Creative Sector to Network
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)
- Where: TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre, 770 Grt South Rd, Manukau
Pacific Tapa Exhibition at Te Papa
The public is invited to an evening of art, discussion, music, and wine at Te Papa’s “Tapa: Pacific Style” exhibition on Thursday 15 October 2009 from 5.30 to 8.30 pm. Tapa is cloth material made from the pounded inner bark of various trees, such as paper mulberry or breadfruit trees. Each island group has its own distinctive and unique patterns, concepts and uses, but the process for making tapa is a common link. The evening features:
5.30pm–6.15pm - a floortalk by Safua Akeli, Te Papa Curator Pacific Cultures.
6.30pm–7.15pm - a talk by Pacific art historian Peter Brunt, about tapa cloth in the Pacific and the way some contemporary Pacific artists have responded to it in their work.
7.15pm–7.30pm - A reading by poet Teresia Teaiwa of pieces composed especially for the exhibition along with poems from her spoken-word CD I can see Fiji.
7.30pm–8.30pm - wine or a hot chocolate while enjoying Pacific music from Miramar Express. Miramar Express is a string band made up of five musicians from the Cook Islands, who play the ukarere (ukulele), guitar, and drums.
All activities take place on level 4 of the museum. Entry is free.
Macmillan Brown Pacific Artist in Residence 2010 Call for Applications
Applications and nominations are invited for the University of Canterbury Macmillan Brown Centre’s Pacific Artist in Residence. The Residency is co-funded by Creative New Zealand and is open to traditional or contemporary Pacific artists in the fields of textiles, ceramics, painting, sculpture, and the literary and performing arts. Applicants or nominees should be New Zealand based and will be expected to conduct workshops and interact with the University and Pacific communities in Christchurch while in residence. The residency is tenable for a period of three months and provides recipients with the time, space, and facilities to develop their artistic practice in an academic environment. The previous resident artist was Kulimoeanga Stone Maka (left). Applications for the 2010 award close on 09 November 2009. They should include a proposal of what will be accomplished during the residency.
Creative New Zealand Seeks Nominees for 2009 Arts Pasifika Awards
Creative New Zealand has released the guidelines and nomination form for the 2009 Arts Pasifika Awards. A total of $28,000 will be awarded in five categories. These include the Senior Pacific Artists’ Award ($10,000), the Pacific Heritage Arts Award ($5,000), the Pacific Contemporary Arts Award ($5,000), and the Iosefa Enari Memorial Award ($4,000). The fifth award is the Emerging Pacific Artists’ Award ($4,000) and recognises an emerging artist or group that shows promise and potential in their chosen art form. The deadline for nominations is 5pm, Friday July 17th, 2009. Nomination forms can be downloaded from the Creative New Zealand website.
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