New Maori artists in public eye
"E toru nga mea refers to the whakatauki about faith, hope and love..." Stuart Schwartz
Putting your work in the public eye is all part of the learning curve for emerging artists.
Taylor- Jensen Fine Arts Gallery has given graduating students from Te Wananga o Aotearoa just such a space.
The Palmerston North gallery is hosting students graduating from their harakeke (weaving) and whakairo (carving) degrees in a show case exhibition.
The students have all planned and set up the exhibition themselves which tutor Adrienne Spratt said is an important part of the process.
‘‘It is a great learning experience for them and a wonderful opportunity for the public to see the incredible standard of work that is being produced through the Toi programme at Te Wananga o Aotearoa.’’
This is the second year the arts degree in weaving has been offered at the Palmerston North campus and also the second year that Taylor-jensen Fine Arts has hosted the end of year exhibition.
Stuart Schwartz, managing director of the gallery, said it was a first for them to have both degree programmes exhibiting at the gallery simultaneously.
‘‘The works on display will include project work by the students in each programme as well as the celebratory group piece that gives the exhibition its name,’’ he said.
‘‘E toru nga mea refers to the whakatauki about faith, hope and love - the three basic techniques in weaving, the three years of the degree and the three kete of knowledge that were retrieved from the heavens in Maori tradition.’’
The exhibition is open until November 30.