April 19, 2024
Māori artists get prime spot at fair
Māori artists are out to make a big splash at this weekend’s Aotearoa Art Fair.
The fair at Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour Events Centre. brings together 35 galleries from Aotearoa, Australia and Rarotonga.
As well as what’s on the wall there’s performances, artist talks and panel discussions.
Visitors are welcomed with a collaborative work where weaver Shiree Reihana from Ngati Hine and has put her contemporary kākahu on pou made by sculptor Anton Forde from Ngati Ruanui.
Reihana says she took up weaving 30 years ago as a form of physical therapy after losing the sight in one eye because of an autoimmune disease.
“I was very lucky because it came very naturally for me and that’s when my Papa said to me well your nanny was a was a weaver but of course back in those days dad never told me I was well into my 30s at that stage,” she says.
The fair runs until Sunday, and entry is $34.