About the Whenua exhibition
Whenua: Born of the Land is an exhibition of contemporary Maori art at the Tinakori Gallery, Wellington, New Zealand between 26 August and 4 September 2004. The exhibition follows on from the highly successful "Kiwa" exhibition at the world-leading indigenous art gallery Spirit Wrestler in Vancouver, Canada.
About the Whenua exhibition
"Whenua - born of the land" is the result of a very special alignment of interests, aspirations, culture and creativity. In 2003 Toi Maori Aotearoa was privileged to work with world-leading indigenous art specialist Spirit Wrestler Gallery in Vancouver, Canada on the delivery of the highly successful "Kiwa" exhibition and its support programme.
The Kiwa exhibition was inspired by Nigel Reading of Spirit Wrestler Gallery working with Roi Toia and June Grant of Rotorua and it stimulated enormous buyer and media interest throughout North America.
Concurrently, Wellington City Mayor Kerry Prendergast and Wellington City Council Chief Executive Garry Poole travelled extensively in America seeking to determine a strategy that would define and propel the Wellington economy and successfully position the city and region in the world marketplace. The result is "Creative Wellington - Innovation Capital".
Meanwhile, Marcia Shaw at Tinakori Gallery commenced a new partnership with Toi Maori Aotearoa to deliver the "He Rere Kee - Taking Flight" exhibition during the International Festival of the Arts in February/ March 2004, which was a resounding success.
"Whenua - born of the land" continues this excellent Toi Maori Aotearoa and Tinakori Gallery partnership, it celebrates and presents many of the successful "Kiwa" artists and it launches the first major Toi Maori Aotearoa initiative within a new and exciting relationship with Wellington City Council.
Special thanks to the "Whenua" concept team of Marcia Shaw, Darcy Nicholas, June Grant and Manos Nathan. Thank you also to Mere Boynton who has co-ordinated this project. Sincere appreciation to Mayor Kerry Prendergast, Councillor Ray Ahipene-Mercer, Chief Executive Garry Poole, Holden Hohaia and Jo de Joux from Wellington City Council.
The support of toi iho ™ is also acknowledged and the assistance of Muriwai Ihakara, Moerangi Vercoe and Moana Davey. Leading New Zealand law firm, Bell Gully has also supported this exhibition and thanks go to Roger Drummond and his team.
Toi Maori Aotearoa, under the leadership of Waana Davis, aspires to be the organisation of first choice for all matters relating to contemporary Maori art.
A number of exciting initiatives are planned for Wellington City, including a special tribute to the great poet Hone Tuwhare and the inaugural "Maori Market" in 2005, as a result of our association with Wellington City Council.
The "Eternal Thread - Best of Maori Weaving" exhibition recently held at Pataka Museum in Porirua is confirmed to tour the Northwest Coast of America in 2005/06 and a significant exhibition will be once again hosted by the Spirit Wrestler Gallery, Vancouver in February 2006.
Maori art is indeed taking on the world and "Whenua - born of the land" provides a special opportunity to celebrate right here in the heart of "Creative Wellington - Innovation Capital" many of those artists making this international impact possible.
Garry Nicholas and John E. Dow
Toi Maori Aotearoa
For more information:
This page is an excerpt from the Whenua - born of the land website. A catalogue of the exhibition is also available here.