Arts and What’s On

Works by some of the most famous names in the New Zealand art world have been brought together for an upcoming exhibition that is exclusive to Hastings City Art Gallery.

Amongst them are pieces by the late Diggeress Te Kanawa, widely regarded as New Zealand’s most renowned weaver.

Te Kahui Maunga Kura Toi – 30 Years of Contemporary Maori Art from Te Wananga o Aotearoa, has been installed in the Hastings City Art Gallery this week.

Work by Te Kanawa will be surrounded by that of 50 artists – all who have had an involvement with Te Wananga o Aotearoa over its 30 year history.

Curator Chris Bryant-Toi said the works had been gathered from across the country, including the collection of Te Wananga o Aotearoa and the Waikato Museum.

“Some of these works mark a significant institutional outcome in the history of Te Wananga o Aotearoa, while others reflect a contemporary Māori art trend or ground breaking new direction,” he said. Other famous names in the exhibition include master carver the late Dr Pakariki Harrison, painter, educationalist Nin, and Sandy Adsett.

Gallery director Toni MacKinnon said seeing the “really special treasures by established masters like Te Kanawa and Dr. Buck Nin alongside the very contemporary works of people like Hiwirori Maynard and Margaret Aull is amazing”.

Alongside Te Kahui Maunga Kura Toi, the gallery will be hosting a John Miller photography exhibition: New Zealand Maori artists and Writers 1973-1993.

Miller had photographing pivotal moments in New Zealand’s history since the 1960’s.

MacKinnon said the exhibition going into the gallery focussed on hui held by The New Zealand Maori Writers and Artists organisation over the 20 years from 1973.

She said quite a few of the 41 “beautiful” photos feature personalities from Hawke’s Bay.

Miller has gifted five of the photographs with relevance to the region to the gallery.

In 2003 John Miller received a Media Peace Prize Lifetime Award in recognition of his photography and its role in helping to promote peace.

What’s On

Exhibitions: Te Kahui Maunga Kura Toi – 30 Years of Contemporary Maori Art from Te Wananga o Aotearoa and New Zealand Maori artists and Writers 1973-1993, Hastings City Art Gallery, Eastbourne St, Hastings, daily, September 12 to November 22.

ENDS

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