ASSEMBLAGE LIGHTS THE WAY

Press Release for Greenwoods Corner, White Night 2017

STARTS

Choosing to share the March 18 White Night theme of assemblage with nearby Pah Homestead’s Sir James Wallace Arts Trust (JWAT) has produced some novel community art initiatives for the little village of Greenwoods Corner (GWC).

Under what is essentially a collage theme, visitors will take part in a sgraffito-CD art installation, the making of a tree of hands with Kohia School students, as well as staple colouring and face painting activities for children.

Locals will be able to talk with several artists. Architecture masters graduate and JWAT award winning Chinese ink artist Wei Lun Ha, will work through the evening to create a 10-metre-long street front masterpiece. Visitors will also be able to listen to Dada artist Laurence Couchman as he talks them through his assemblage capsule exhibitions dotted around the village. Dada is socio-politically inspired form of collage from early 20th century Europe. It forms the bedrock of Couchman’s latest work, now in the collections of Sir James Wallace and Warwick Brown.

Because the Pah Homestead were putting together a complementary programme featuring craft objects, including an Yvonne Saunders antiques-style roadshow and a ‘bring-take-make’ theme, both White Night teams decided to collaborate. They’ll share some performers, art, lantern making to ‘light the way’ for walkers going between both venues, and provision of a shuttle bus.

Greenwoods Corner maildrops to the community have encouraged Pah and surrounding road residents to ‘light the way’ to the Pah and back.

“We’re not expecting Franklin Road Lights, but this is a great example of community interaction in the name of art. Residents, the Corner and Pah Homestead will benefit from taking part in this fun, affordable exercise!” says GWC Business Association Chairperson, Joy Stirling.

This March marks the second White Night for Greenwoods Corner; the Pah has taken part in Auckland Council Arts Festival multiple times. The event is an Auckland iteration of the French concept by the same name, coined in 2002 to make art accessible to people in everyday public spaces, heartily welcomed by the artists.

Working ‘live’ in community spaces is a cornerstone of Wei Lun’s practice that he says benefits from viewer participation.

“I find that viewers become captivated by the large gestures formed by the long painting. My paintings create a temporary environment where they can see into my mind - the painting almost becomes a timeline that draws the people back and forth during the event.”

Wei Lun’s work will be donated to the Sir James Wallace Arts Trust.

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Sites

http://whitenight.aaf.co.nz/whitenight/locations/greenwoods-corner

https://www.facebook.com/GreenwoodsCornerVillage/

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