State of the Arts
Art ambition
Since the inaugural annual event in 2010, Artweek Auckland has presented free exhibitions, art tours, workshops and artist talks across the Auckland region, encouraging audiences to explore and celebrate the city’s diverse and vibrant contemporary art scene. The 2016 Artweek Auckland festival presents the work of more than 1000 artists, in more than 100 venues, over 10 days from October 8-16. ‘‘My aim for this weeklong festival was to grow Auckland’s visual arts audience through discovery and discussion,’’ says founder Deborah White. ‘‘Artweek is all about broadening the scope of who appreciates art – breaking down those barriers and demystifying the notion that the art world is a secret/closed/elitist community. I want to grow the art audience here in Auckland!’’
Fiery musical
Writer and composer Graeme John Webber’s new musical Fire On The River was inspired by a trip to London, in which he encountered the intriguing stories of medieval Londoners in a time of massive upheaval – Charles II was restored to the monarchy after hard-line puritan Oliver Cromwell’s 11-year rule and in 1665 London was decimated by plague. Webber’s plot follows the unprecedented destruction of the Great Fire, on September 2, 1666, at Farriner’s Bakery in Pudding Lane. The fire destroyed more than 10,000 houses and many major buildings including St Paul’s Cathedral, the King’s Printing House with Shakespeare’s original manuscripts, The Royal Exchange, and the Old Bailey. Fire On The River runs from October 6-30 at three theatres in Auckland; Glen Eden’s Playhouse, Papatoetoe’s Spotlight and Takapuna’s Pumphouse.
De-LUX festival
Glade, Wellington LUX’s free public light festival, turns the capital’s waterfront and laneways into a celebration of light, art, technology and design. The festival showcases a diverse array of light sculptures, which wind their way through an urban light trail within the city’s laneways and then spill out into a promenade of bright installations along the waterfront. More than a dozen artists have created light works that will create a freaky forest at a secret location on the waterfront. Among them is Oli Blair, a Dunedin-based artist who is using a digital projection to transform the large vaulted ceiling into endless sky. Glade is on from September 30 to October 9.
Get set to welcome in 2017
Wondergarden is promising to provide Aucklanders something a little bit special and different from what is on offer in the city for New Year’s Eve. Mockasin Arabia Finn, the collaborative band of Connan Mockasin, Lawrence Arabia and Liam Finn; Wellington’s psychedelic six-piece The Phoenix Foundation; dream pop breakout group Yumi Zouma; and New Zealand’s favourite singer-songwriter Anika Moa lead the charge with support from Orchestra Of Spheres, Estere, Dictaphone Blues, Miloux, Jesse Sheehan and Paul Ubana Jones. ‘‘We’re extremely proud of this lineup, and excited to offer something for friends, families, and party people of all ages who are sticking around the city,’’ says event manager Reuben Bonner.