Toi Maori Festival 2003, Christchurch
A description of the festival, January 19-25, 2003
Ki Uta Ki Tai, From the Mountains to the Sea, is a week-long festival for the people of Canterbury to experience contemporary Maori artforms, including a special demonstration of the Waka Taua (traditional canoe) and daily Ta Moko (traditional tattooing) demonstrations, as well as a spectacular visual arts exhibition. Festival events will take place between January 19th to 25th , and will be based at the Christchurch Polytechnic.
Toi Maori has gathered together Maori artists working in a wide range of contemporary artforms from all around New Zealand. The festival will feature the work of established individuals such as artists Robyn Kahukiwa, Rangi Kipa and Saffron Te Ratana, clay artist Wi Taepa, carver Riki Manuel, weaver Cath Brown, opera singer Wiremu Winitana, singer-songwriter Whirimako Black, and performer Toni Huata. International guest artists Dempsey Bob and Stan Bevan, indigenous carvers from Canada, will be sharing their skills and experience.
"The Toi Maori Festival brings together all the artforms in one place so that not only can our artists interact across genres, but also, so that the public can be presented with a comprehensive and encompassing range of excellence in Maori art" says Toi Maori General Manager Garry Nicholas. The Toi Maori Festival 2003 builds on past success in Rotorua (1999) and New Plymouth (2001), where it had a significant presence at the Taranaki Arts Festival.
The 2003 Festival kicks off with a grand opening on Monday 20 January. First up is Kura Kura Toi Maori, an exhibition of contemporary Maori art that will strikingly transform the Polytechnic"s Recreation Centre. Following is a busy and lively week with daily demonstrations and workshops at the Polytechnic. Waka demonstrations will be held at Rapaki Marae on Saturday 25 January and the week"s events are topped off by two sensational concerts of music on Friday and Saturday evenings that are open to the public.
A full programme of events is available. For more information and publicity material, please contact Kaaterina Elers at Toi Maori Aotearoa on 04 8017914 or kaaterina@maoriart.org.nz.
Toi Maori acknowledges the support of Te Waka Toi Maori Arts Board of Creative New Zealand, Ngai Tahu Development Corporation, Auahi Kore, and Kanohi Kitea.