Runanga Whakairo National Wananga
"Carving out a Career"
Dates: 10,12 October 2003
Venue: Pätaka Museum of Arts and Cultures, Porirua
He pänui tënei ka tü te hui tuatoru a Toi Mäori Aotearoa, mo te Whakairo. Nau mai, haere mai ki te Hui-ä-Motu a Rünanga Whakairo
Hoki Mahara
In September 1998 Toi Mäori Aotearoa held a Hui on establishing a Whakairo group at Whakatane. In 2001 a Hui that was held in Waitara discussed issues as diverse as NZQA, wages and innovation in carving. Neither of these Hui resulted in a clear direction for a national structure to advise Toi Maori on Whakairo. Since then, commissioners Tame Te Rangi and Dr Päkariki Harrison have carried the role.
Kaupapa
This year Toi Mäori supports two Whakairo activities. One is the international exhibition to Spirit Wrestler Gallery in Vancouver, Canada in September. The other is this Hui targeting carvers seeking careers in the arts. The Wänanga's theme is "Carving out a Career."
The carving industry has three general areas. Central to this is the high art of the tohunga Whakairo creating major community projects. We are fortunate to have living treasures such as Dr Päkariki Harrison, Rangi Hetet, Taka Panere and Te Hau Tütua amongst us. They in turn have nurtured further generations of carvers to maintain the traditions of carving. Many of the second-tier artists work as educators where increasingly the demand for positions and conditions becomes tighter. The third and possibly most under-developed area lies in the galleries' and private collectors' area.
The tourist market relies on replicas of musical instruments, weapons and other traditional forms. Toi Mäori is keen to explore interest for artists moving into this area and seeking the resources and shifts to tap into such a career. We welcome this group of artists to join us at Pätaka on the weekend of 10th October 2003.
The Wänanga will feature forum discussions on Tikanga Whakairo led by Tohunga Whakairo and Artists, with an emphasis on the Whakairo industry, tools, techniques and applications and materials. A major component of the Wänanga is a business development programme specifically aimed towards carvers planning on moving into business and marketing their artworks.
For further enquiries regarding the Rünanga Whakairo National Wänanga programme and registration details please contact:
Te Arikirangi Mamaku
Ph: 04 801 7914
Fax: 04 801 9412
Email: events@maoriart.org.nz