Maori Art Meets America Report
Project Panui , Highlights of the Event
San Francisco, USA August 2005
'Te Ika a Maui' under the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco
Photo: Tourism New Zealand and Andy Katz Photography
Project Panui , Highlights of the Event
Maori Art Meets America was a joint venture between Toi Maori Aotearoa and Tourism New Zealand. On August 4th 2005, the waka 'Te Ika A Maui' paddled under the Golden Gate Bridge to join with the people of San Francisco in a ten-day event celebrating Maori art and culture in America.
"Twenty years ago the exhibition 'Te Maori' revealed to American audiences the heartbeat of our country's indigenous people. In August, the rhythmic beat of the canoe paddles and the pulsating stamp of bare feet in the haka will recapture that ancestral spirit and energy. Alongside the exhibition of ancient and modern weaving and other art works made with materials from Papatuanuku (Mother Earth), the land and its forest will resonate a living culture from across the Pacific"
~Garry Nicholas, General Manager of Toi Maori Aotearoa (July 2005)
The waka 'Te Ika a Maui'
was designed and built by Hekenukumai (Hector) Busby and his team to represent all iwi of Aotearoa. The kaihoe spent several hours paddling under the Golden Gate Bridge to enable photographers to achieve this dramatic shot. This image captured the interest of media and the American public and marked the arrival of Maori in San Francisco.
Around 600 people
greeted the waka 'Te Ika a Maui' when it arrived on the beach at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park at dawn on August 4th 2005. Its arrival opened the 'Maori Art Meets America' event. Maori were formally welcomed by local tribal representatives, who paddled out in their reed boats to meet 'Te Ika a Maui' and the kaihoe. The greeting ceremonies continued on shore, with over fifty American media present to capture the unprecedented cultural exchange.
Toi Maori Aotearoa Chairperson Waana Davis said the dawn waka ceremony was a deeply moving occasion: "The interest here in this event is enormous. The people of San Francisco have embraced Aotearoa in an overwhelming manner, and there is a real presence of New Zealand and Maori around the city."
Te Puia
enthralled the American public with their performances of kapa haka in the Yerba Buena Gardens and Union Square, captivated guests at all official functions and made a big impression on attendees and the media at the dawn waka ceremony. The kaihoe also made a lasting impression with their arrival by waka and daily waka demonstrations, which were attended by audiences of over 2000 people. Waka expert Hekenukumai (Hector) Busby was well received when he presented a lecture on Maori navigational methods to a large audience of maritime enthusiasts.
The cloak 'Aramoana'
(pathway across the sea) , a gift to the city of San Francisco - symbolised the weaving of strong and vibrant relationships between Maori people and the citizens of San Francisco. It was presented by Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, the Maori Queen, to Aaron Peskin, President of the Board of Supervisors, San Francisco City and County. The cloak was designed by Ranui Ngarimu, and took her and seven other weavers four months to complete.
A delegation of over fifty Maori artists
and dignitaries attended the official opening of the exhibition 'Toi Maori: Art from the Maori People of New Zealand' at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. The exhibition was conceived, developed and produced by Porirua's Pataka Museum, demonstrating their world class skills and experience which were met with admiration from American audiences and media representatives.
John Dow, Project Manager, Toi Maori Aotearoa, was amazed by the response of the American public: "The final weekend has seen people driving from up to eight hours away specifically to see the exhibition and pushed total attendance figures over the 26,000 mark on the last afternoon."
'Toi Maori - Art from the Maori People of New Zealand'
was an exhibition comprised of three components: 'Toi Maori: The Eternal Thread - Te Aho Mutunga Kore' exhibition of weaving; demonstrations by weavers and ta moko artists; and an exhibition of contemporary Maori art featuring ceramics, jewellery and carving. Visitors were enthralled by the works of weaving and enjoyed the interactive nature of the exhibition: being able to talk to the weavers, ta moko and contemporary artists about their art as they worked.
Garry Nicholas commented that exhibition visitor numbers exceeded expectations early. "What is even more heartening is the reaction we are getting from the people of San Francisco. They have truly embraced our work and are taking the opportunity to talk to the artists about their art and about New Zealand."
"The community of San Francisco is in love with this exhibition," said Belva Davis, the 20,000th visitor, after she had seen the exhibition. "It is sad that this hasn't happened earlier , I am enthralled by the special energy created and the beauty of the works on display."
The weavers' delegation
of eight exhibiting artists included senior weavers as well as younger contemporary artists. Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu paid tribute to the art of weaving and to the skills and talents of the weavers when she launched the book 'The Art of Maori Weaving' written by Miriama Evans and Ranui Ngarimu.
"'Toi Maori: The Eternal Thread - Te Aho Mutunga Kore' caught the hearts of many who viewed it in San Francisco. It was enjoyable to meet new audiences, make new friends and share our weaving stories and techniques."
~Ranui Ngarimu, Chairperson, Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa
Tourism New Zealand's
in-depth understanding of the San Francisco community led them to host an evening of hospitality and entertainment for over 300 business people and officials. The function encapsulated the essence of New Zealand in a manner that created pride amongst all New Zealanders that were present and truly inspired all of the American guests.
"We expect the events around 'Maori Art Meets America' to have a real effect on how people in San Francisco perceive New Zealand," says George Hickton, Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive.
Air New Zealand, who were significant contributors to the overall success of the project also hosted a very special night at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.
Aotearoa media coverage
Mainstream and Maori media reaction in New Zealand was positive, with extensive coverage achieved in national and regional newspapers, television, radio and websites.
US media coverage
Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive George Hickton reported that media coverage of the 'Maori Art Meets America' event was extensive throughout America, reaching an audience of nearly nine million people. The media coverage spanned from print to television, and included major publications such as the Wall Street Journal (circulation 1, 820, 600), New York Times (circ. 1,130,740), LA Times (circ. 1,014,044).
Mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsom,
proclaimed August 4, 2005 as 'Toi Maori - The Eternal Thread Day' and presented New Zealand with a Certificate of Proclamation which pays credit to the work being done to retain Maori culture and heritage, and for the contribution of the 'Maori Art Meets America' event to the city of San Francisco.
"The 'Maori Art Meets America' event is important because it celebrates the creative achievement of Maori people today in one of the great art cities of the world," explains Creative Director Darcy Nicholas.
"The word 'Maori' has immense value in the international arena. Combined with the dynamism and spirituality of the arts it is an awesome force. Maori art has unlocked a huge audience and confirms research for a dynamic fit with the vibrancy and beauty of this country."
~ Garry Nicholas.
The 'Maori Art Meets America' event
was an unprecedented opportunity
to promote and celebrate Maori art and New Zealand. Over fifty Maori artists and dignitaries travelled together to San Francisco to participate in the opening ceremonies and dynamic, interactive exhibition.
Toi Maori Aotearoa and Tourism New Zealand presented an exhibition which entertained visitors and informed them about the Maori people, their arts and culture, and their land, Aotearoa New Zealand. It also provided a forum for the remarkable cultural exchange which took place between Maori and the Native American tribes of San Francisco. This marked another step in our journey to connect with other indigenous peoples of the world, to share our art forms and cultural perspectives.
The reaction of media and visitors to the event was overwhelmingly positive and coverage was comprehensive in the USA and in New Zealand. The outcomes of attracting high visitor numbers and promoting Maori art on the world stage and in New Zealand were achieved and exceeded expectations.
The continuing international tour of the 'Toi Maori - The Eternal Thread' exhibition to two further US venues symbolises the enduring relationships that are being formed and the knowledge sharing that will continue , a thread we have cast out that continues to be woven and nurtured.
Toi Maori Aotearoa,
in partnership with Pataka Museum, produced 'Maori Art Meets America' in San Francisco, August 2005, in a joint venture with Tourism New Zealand and their partner, Air New Zealand. Toi Maori Aotearoa acknowledges the following partners and sponsors for their contribution to making 'Maori Art Meets America' a success:
Te Puia
Te Waka Toi, Creative New Zealand
New Zealand Trade & Enterprise
Poutama Maori Business Trust
Te Puni Kokiri
New Zealand Major Events
Pataka Museum
Tourism New Zealand
Air New Zealand
October 2005
Toi Maori Aotearoa - Maori Arts New Zealand
PO Box 9570, Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand
Website: http://www.maoriart.org.nz
Email: toimaori@xtra.co.nz
Maori Art Meets America on the Tourism New Zealand website
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