Media Release
29 October 2008

Free And Outdoor Events During Manukau Festival Of Arts

Manukau Festival of Arts offers many free activities including two events tailored towards those who enjoy a combination of the arts and the outdoors.

Active Arts in the Square will include eight artists from different cultures working each day to create their works in media as diverse as clay, wood, stone and fibre. The public can come along and experience these artists at work as well as have the opportunity to participate in art-making and relaxing activities such as Tai Chi and listening to live music performances.

Dr Richard Shortland Cooper has brought together artists Ian George, Darren Keith, Johnny Penisula, Dana Rapata, Nadya Rapata and Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi to represent Pacific, Maori and European arts practice and techniques. They will be joined by Duane Howard, a First Nations indigenous artist from North America.

The free event, which will be held in Manukau Square, will begin on Monday 3 November for a week and on the final day, selected works will be offered for sale to the general public.

Visiting the beautiful Auckland Botanic Gardens in Manurewa will be a must during the Manukau Festival of Arts, with a fantastic indoor and outdoor sculpture exhibition.

Curated by Clevedon-based artist and sculptor James Wright, more than 20 artists will present brilliant works in glass, bronze, wood, stainless steel and corrugated iron.

Artists with works featured in the exhibition include Russell Beck, Fred Graham, David McCracken, Jenny Mcleod, James Pickernell, Rebecca Rose, Jeff Thomson and Jim Wheeler.

The exhibition will run from Friday 7 to 16 November. All works are for sale and a percentage of the sales will be donated to the South Auckland Hospice.

A range of free visual arts exhibitions will continue in galleries around the city at Fresh Gallery Otara, Mangere Arts Centre, Manukau Institute of Technology, Te Tuhi Centre for the Arts and in the refurbished gallery space at Manukau City Council’s Civic building.

For more information visit www.mfa.org.nz.

ENDS

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