June 12, 2020
Matariki show celebrates diverse range of Māori artists
Some of the artwork created by emerging and established Māori artists during lockdown gets its first showing from today at the Toi Matarau contemporary Māori art gallery in Ōtaki.
Te Kāhui o Matariki also features works created for a book of the same name co-edited by the late Colleen Waata Urlich, a Taitokerau ceramic artist, and Māoriland’s Libby Hakaraia.
Ms Hakaraia says it's a chance to see high level Māori art from all over the motu.
"One of the goals of Toi Matarau was to put together a gallery that represents Māori artists at a high level, from emerging artist to artists at the top of their game," she says.
Artists featured include Darcy Nicholas, Wi Taepa, Manos Nathan, Colleen Waata Urlich, Sandy Adsett, Lewis Gardiner, Derek Lardelli, Baye Riddell, Alex Nathan, June Grant, Wendy Whitehead, Hiwirori Maynard, Frances Stachl, Hemi MacGregor, Teresa Murray, Diane Prince, Todd Couper and Roi Toia in collaboration with Salish Coast artist Susan Point.
There are also members of Ngā Kaihanga Uku – represented by Rhonda Halliday, Maude Cooke-Davies, Davina Duke, Noelle Jakeman and those who whakapapa with, or who have strong links to Ōtaki such as Kohai Grace, Sonia Snowden and Hemi Sundgren.
Te Kāhui o Matariki has an online presence at toi.maorilandfilm.co.nz, which also features short films, interactive works and live feeds from the exhibition.
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