AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL MEDIA RELEASE

8 February 2006

Birdhouse at Artstation

Hundreds of colourful birds will come to nest inside the Artstation Gallery from 21 February until 7 March.

Birdhouse is the latest in a series of events by the Friendly Girls Society. The interactive art project offers the public the opportunity to create hand silk-screened paper birds. The ornate birds will be installed on and around a specially made birdhouse in the gallery, transforming it into a vibrant bird sanctuary.

Participation in the project is free and all art materials are provided.

The Friendly Girls Society was formed by Amanda A'Hara and Tracey Williams. The society champions friendliness and aims to give recognition to unheralded stories, events and people.

In Birdhouse art making is used as a vehicle to engage people in the construction of an exhibition and ask them to think about their ideas of community, friendliness and goodwill.

When planning Birdhouse, the Friendly Girls Society looked for ways to involve the whole community in a cycle of benevolence.

To accomplish this, people who have been involved in making the exhibition can have their birds returned to them at the end of the show or make a donation and have the birds sent as gifts to a nominated person or organisation.

Any money left over from these donations, or from the contributions of visitors to the exhibition, will be given to assist the work of Sylvia Durrant - the 'Bird Lady' of Brown's Bay. Ms Durrant has voluntarily rescued and nurtured sick and injured birds at her home for many years.

Notes to editors

Birdhouse exhibition and booking information Artists Friendly Girls Society Exhibition 21 February - 7 March 2007 Opening 5-7pm, Tuesday 20 February 2007. Bookings Individuals and small groups can drop in during gallery opening hours. Booking is recommended for larger groups. Contact Tracey on 0211252548 or by email at tracewilliams@xtra.co.nz - or Amanda on 0211156238 or by email at mandy.ahara@xtra.co.nz Entry Free

Artstation, Auckland City's community visual arts facility, is located at the old police barracks at 1 Ponsonby Road, Newton. It is easy to get to by public transport with the Link's 'Artstation' bus stop right outside.

Artstation information Phone: (09) 376 3221 Email: artstation@aucklandcity.govt.nz Web address: www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/artstation Artstation gallery hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm Saturday 10am to 4pm

Tracey Williams and Amanda A'Hara

Tracey Williams and Amanda A'Hara are both Auckland based artists and experienced teachers.

Tracey Williams studied art in London and New Zealand and has an MFA with honours from Elam School of Fine Arts. Her recent exhibitions include A Short History of Some Other Things at Te Tuhi - The Mark.

Amanda A'Hara has an MFA with honours from Elam School of Fine Arts and a Diploma in Teaching from the Auckland College of Education. Recent exhibitions include Moto X at the Papakura Art Gallery.

ENDS

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