West AKL Artist Talks 2020

Philippa Blair "Thaw" 2019 in studio

With its inspiring environments and diverse communities, West Auckland is home to some of New Zealand's most well-known artists and richest art activities.

In association with Te Uru Contemporary Art Gallery in Titirangi, West AKL Artist Talks 2020 has been curated to engage with current exhibitions. This series of three free artist talks has been organised by ArtSpark at Green Bay Community House, and highlights the work of nine contemporary artists.

Painting Abstractions brings together three expressive abstract painters: Philippa Blair, a pioneering NZ artist with a long, well-established international career; Stella Corkery whose gestural paintings link with music, and Nicola Farquhar whose colourful, lyrical exhibition Listening: Twitching can be seen at Te Uru from 22 February.

Repeating Cycles presents diverse artists connecting to the art of Theo Schoon, who has a retrospective exhibition at Te Uru from 7 March. Tracey Tawhaio (Ngai te Rangi, Whakatohea, Tuwharetoa) is well known for working across diverse media with Maori imagery; Kathy Barry’s pencil and gouache works connect energies and meditative processes; and Sarah Munro’s stitched artworks are based on a 1769 artwork by Tupaia, the Tahitian navigator who guided James Cook on his first Pacific voyage.  

 Sea-level Rise, the final talk in the series, is in collaboration with EcoFest West. The Pacifica Mamas, a collective of traditionally skilled Pacifica heritage artists, focus on sustainability; Rebecca Swan presents her project on disappearing bull-kelp forests off the American West coast, and Janine Randerson discusses New York artist Sarah Cameron Sunde’s 36.5 - A Durational Performance with the Sea, in which she stands in the Manukau Harbour for a full tidal cycle, exhibited at Te Uru from 22 February.  

These talks are a really unique opportunity, in an up close and intimate setting, to discover exciting artists in our neighbourhood and gain an insight into the rich diversity of artmaking in West Auckland.

Where: Green Bay Community House, 1 Barron Ave, Green Bay.
When: Friday 6th March 7-9pm: Painting Abstractions
Friday 20th March 7-9pm: Repeating Cycles
Friday 3rd April 7-9pm: Sea-Level Rise, in association with EcoFest West
 
Book Free Tickets here: http://bit.ly/WestAKLArtistTalks2020tickets
More info:  http://bit.ly/WestAKLArtistTalks2020

This event is possible with the generous support of CNZ Creative Communities Scheme, the Green Bay Community House and the Whau Local Board.