Friends unite for Māori inspired exhibition

Māori artists from the Kaipara region formed Te Ata Hou Roopu (The New Dawn Group) last year.

Their debut exhibition at the Mangawhai Artists Gallery was a resounding success, drawing more than 100 people to the opening night – the largest turnout the gallery had seen. The show opened with a powerful pōwhiri, which introduced many visitors to the richness of Māori culture for the first time.

Due to overwhelming support from the community, Te Ata Hou Roopu returns this year to the Mangawhai Artists Gallery with Matariki Revisited, an exhibition running from July 26 to August 7.

This time, they are joined by local Pākehā artists – both emerging and established – in a celebration of kotahitanga (unity) and manaakitanga (fostering positive relationships). Together, they form Te Ata Hou Roopu and Friends United, a collective of 10 Māori and Pākehā artists sharing their talents and stories through Māori inspired art.

The exhibition will feature a vibrant range of works, including traditional and contemporary Māori weaving, korowai (cloaks), Indian ink, collage, resin, photography, paintings and more.

Alongside the exhibition, and with the support of Kaipara District Council, five of the artists will host 12 workshops over two weeks, offering creative wānanga (workshops) for both pakeke (adults) and rangatahi (youth). These workshops reflect the group’s kaupapa: “Kotahitanga i roto i te hapori – Unity within the community.”

The class for youth covers tī rākau and poi making with action waiata, leaf printing, harakeke putiputi making and jewellery making.

Other classes include working with Indian Ink, resin, collage, poi making, waikawa weaving and jewellery making.

Participating artists are Edie Chappell, Sue Anson, Sandy Davies, Nelly van der Oord, Keri Craike, Britta Conrad, Cher Davies, Shannon Williams, Danielle Adams and Bernard Callinan.

Matariki Revisited is at the Mangawhai Artists Gallery, 45 Moir Street, Mangawhai, and open daily from 10.30am to 3.30pm (and from 9am on Saturdays) until Thursday August 7.

For more details about the workshops, go to www.mangawhaiartists.orgFriends unite for Māori inspired exhibition