Kapi-Mana ‘Art Action!’

6 January 2006

Kapi-Mana ‘Art Action!’ - Festival Within A Festival

Porirua’s Festival of the Elements new children’s programme, the Kapi-Mana ‘Art Action!’, is shaping up as a festival within a festival.

The 14th Festival of the Elements will be held on Waitangi Day, Monday February 6th at Te Rauparaha Park in central Porirua from 10am through to a Fireworks spectacular at 9.45pm.

‘Art Action!’ will be free, and will be held in the Porirua Recreation Centre as part of the Festival from 11am to 4pm.

‘Art Action!’ coordinator Sue Garden-Bachop says Art Action is going to be a wonderful experience for the Festival’s tamariki!

“We’re very pleased that our local Porirua community newspaper, Kapi-Mana News, has come on board as the special sponsor of ‘Art Action!’, enabling us to develop a wonderful Festival programme for children,” she says.

Ms Garden-Bachop says ‘Art Action!’ workshops are designed to inspire kids to join in, be creative and learn new skills.

“With expert guidance kids can produce their own work of art, take up a physical challenge, and enjoy a wonderful entertainment programme on the performance stage - all under one roof!"

Already Deborah Pope, one of the premier international circus/theatre talents to come from New Zealand, has been announced as a special guest for ‘Art Action!’. She’ll come to the Festival fresh from a tour in the U.K. with Circus Oz, and will run workshops in trapeze, acrobatics, juggling and rope skills for 5-12 year olds at Art Action.

English trampolining coach Sarah Kenworthy (YMCA), and her team of young gymnasts, will provide demonstrations and expert tuition to keen jumpers

Players from the Capital Shakers netball team also will be present throughout the day to lend a helping hand to youngsters and join in the fun.

Another special guest will be Debz Ruffell, a costume designer and maker.

Art workshop organiser Margaret Tolland (Education Coordinator, Pataka) says Debz has a world of experience in creating amazing costumes, and she will be using Kapi-Mana newspapers to create wearable art.

“Hats, masks, wigs, headdresses, jewellery, helmets and anything else you can think of will be shaped out of the familiar pages of the Kapi-Mana newspaper – you name it, Debz can shape it!”

Ms Tolland says the Festival is also thrilled to have Suzanne Tamaki as part of ‘Art Action!’.

Suzanne Tamaki is a body adornment artist, based in Otaki. She has designed some stunning jewellery / adornment weaving activities for children.

Aaron Frater, an accomplished sculptor, will take smaller groups for some fantastic Oamaru stone carving.

“Aaron is keen to pass some of his stone carving knowledge onto some as yet undiscovered talent,” says Ms Tolland.

Local artists will also contribute their talents to ‘Art Action!’.

“Dwyllis Maggs will teach some super hero cartooning; Kay Paget will teach folk art painting techniques; and Sandra Tuara from Te Toi Nui will help kids to create a stick stack sculpture, and to have lots of fun with painting,” says Ms Tolland.

“Ceramic painting tiles will be happening with Pauline MacLean, and Caroline Garrett will encourage kids to add to a combined mosaic masterpiece, which will grow throughout the day.

On the ‘Art Action!’ entertainment stage will be:

- Junior Smokefree Band winners
- Victor and Joshua Faletutulu (vocalists)
- James Gill and other young dancers
- Esther Smith (vocalist)
- Polimia Poulopoulos Dance Academy
- Hip Hop Group – Born to Siva
- Greer Samuel (vocalist)
- Irene Ratine Dance Academy
- The Plops

ENDS

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