Shrine – Ahurewa

March 12th – April 9th 2016

‘Shrine’ is a place of veneration for a person or event, visited by pilgrims: ‘Ahurewa’, a Maori place of ritual. These words resonate through history and consciousness; evoking oracles, religions and churches; altars, spirituality, rites and customs.
“What does ‘Shrine – Ahurewa’ mean to you?” is the question being asked of ten artists from Hokianga – one presently living in Auckland – and one from Christchurch, in an exhibition opening at Village Arts gallery in Kohukohu on Saturday 12th March at 11am.
The inspiration of Claire Kaahu White, Lovey Fife and Valerie Fife, the simple brief compels artists to look deeply into themselves, their lives and their artistic practice.
Personal, social, political and spiritual meet in paradox: the particular and special align with the universal. Eleven very different and unique interpretations will assure a lively, unusual, contemporary visual arts experience, intrinsically accessible.
Lorraine Riki explores the eternal feminine through fabric and fibre squares as ‘MyShrine – Threading Feminine Ancestry’. Reva Mendes treads a path of health and the cycle of life in her ‘Takahia te ara Whanui a Tane’, while Lindsay Antrobus Evans’ ‘Mortice and Tenet’ investigates the thread of male ancestry in building materials.
Valerie Fife’s painting is more materials driven, a universal ‘Shrine of Peace’ achieved through personal balance within. Claire Kaahu White’s ‘Ahurewa’ is more literal. She photographs the altar at the church and uru pa where her ancestors are buried. Other artists are Lovey Fife, Jill Reilly, Patricia Cramp, Emily Glew and Auckland’s Leo Tahitahi, who hails from the local Te Ihutai hapu. His installation of poi speaks to the role of kapa haka in contemporary Maori society, an epitome of cultural achievement. Simon Atkinson from Christchurch with his wooden ‘Angels’ completes the catalogue.
At least five artists will present installations, some interactive. There’s relevance for everyone in the ‘Shrine – Ahurewa’ exhibition.

Ngā Atua Māori

North Hokianga Youth Visual Arts Exhibition

On display from 13th February to 3rd March 2016

Art has the role in education of helping children become more like themselves instead of more like everyone else.

The North Hokianga Cultural Arts Festival is held biannually. It is a celebration of Arts in the North Hokianga. We also believe that it is in the Arts where our tamariki can enhance their lives and express their voice through creativity. Every Kura is asked to perform an item on stage for 20 minutes. Performing Arts, Dance, Drama, Music.

This year our theme was ‘Te Ao Māori.’ We also have a Visual Arts section titled ‘Ngā Atua’ Every kura was given a mannequin to create an Atua Māori that was of significance to their Kura and environment. Anei te mahi taonga ō ngā kura ō Herekino, Panguru, Matihetihe, Hata Maria, Kohukohu, Broadwood

Te Whiringa

Yvonne Manuel and Lewis Manuera

13th February to 8th March 2016

Opening Saturday 13th February 11am

Certain voices heard
are heard
not because
they
are phonetic
But,
from one soul
they head
to another
in the form of magic. JK Gumber, ‘Ginger and Honey’, 2014.

The process of introspective analysis is nothing more than looking within ourselves for strength, empowerment and ultimately…spiritual transformation.

This exhibition invites us to explore the spiritual and harmonious relationship between the artist as maker and the Creator…that space ‘not seen by the mortal eye’.

Painted works by Yvonne Manuel disclose the artist’s journey of liberation and transformation…a journey that beckons us, to a place of empowerment, to take control of our destiny. This journey is not without, for the seat of empowerment resides within us. This is to live a life of unconditional love for animated as well as unanimated life forms, a state of mind where peace and love dictate a way of life.

Yvonne states, “Real change takes place in our lives when we are able to access and ‘work on ourselves…it is an inside job.”

Carvings by Lewis Manuera are an expression of the deepest recesses of the mind, the spiritual essence and speak to us of power, inspiration and the awesome wonder of mankind. They are the faces of the old world; the bond of the old world to this world; and signposts from this world to the world which stands before us.

Liz McAuliffe

Retrospective Showcase 2016

Showcase ends February 3rd 2016

Artist Statement:
In my sculpture practice I aim to give a sensual experience as well as a visual one, so form, surface and shadow are an integral part of my art works. I work with the minutiae found in Nature. By up-scaling this minutiae into ‘life-size’, I am inviting the viewer to examine their relationship with the objects I chose to magnify, items of nature often bypassed or unnoticed.

Calling All Dreamers

Outpost Hokianga

12th December to 3rd February

Opening Saturday 12th December 2pm

Hokianga is well known for its art community and for attracting artists to work and exhibit on its shores. From a tiny blue shack on the harbour’s southern most coastline, the art-show scene has grown exponentially over the last decade. Art lovers today will find five very different fine art galleries and five distinctly arty shops in the historic settlements of Rawene and Kohukohu. Well connected by a short ferry ride and with good coffee available on both sides of the harbour, the summer’s eclectic shows make for a very enjoyable day out.

Featuring the work of Panguru carver John Morunga plus a curated selection of works by artists and artisans, known and unknown, from near and afar.

‘Dreaming is considered a sacred activity in some societies, and a visionary roadmap for achievement in others. This show celebrates the vital role dreamers play in our culture. Our dreams are the poetry by which we transform the reality of our existence.’ says Lise Strathdee, curator, ‘The response has been truly phenomenal. We will be exhibiting thought provoking fine art and sculpture alongside beautifully hand crafted objects and fabrics. So is it a shop? Or is it an art gallery? You decide! All I will say is that it’s my own Outpost dream come true.’

Scheduled to open at 2pm on Saturday, 12th December, Kohukohu will be a hive of activity from 10am with live music and games on the green, a visit from Santa and a morning market in the Town Hall.

‘calling all dreamers’ is a collaborative showcase between Outpost Hokianga and Village Arts Gallery and will be open everyday except Christmas Day, from 10 am to 4pm. It runs until 3rd of February.