Te Papa's November Exhibitions And Events Update

Te Papa's November Exhibitions And Events Update

November highlights @Te Papa

Two vibrant and engaging exhibitions open at Te Papa this month so come along and join in the celebrations! The opening weekend of Qui Tutto Bene The Italians in New Zealand will be a festival of song, dance, poetry, and film. This exhibition captures the history of Italians in New Zealand and recognises their stylish contribution to this country's way of life. It is a collaboration between Te Papa and the New Zealand Italian community, whose members have contributed a rich collection of stories, photographs, and objects. Later in the month, Out on the Street: New Zealand in the 1970s Tutü te püehu looks at the decade of Women's Liberation, the 'Mäori renaissance', changing attitudes to the environment, eye-popping fashions, and challenges to the 'establishment'. A floortalk by Te Papa curators will give a specialist viewpoint and, on a lighter note, there's '70s Dance Fever' - a dance performance of favourite hits from the likes of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. For families (of all ages), the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is back again with a marvelous day of classic performances, including Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf - narrated by Kevin Keys - and Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty Suite. There'll also be a chance to try out the bass drum! Do you have a treasure in the wardrobe - then bring it along! Te Papa's dress and textile specialist will identify grandma's dress or mum's favourite tea cosy on 'Bring a Textile Treasure Day'! All this and more so read on..............

EVENTS:

Saturday 6

1pm-2pm: Anita's Dance Academy presents The Nutcracker. See young dancers from Anita's Dance Academy perform this Christmas classic. The Marae, Level 4. Free entry.

Sunday 7

1pm-2pm: Toss Woollaston: family and friends floortalk. Take an in-depth look at the work of one of New Zealand's most celebrated artists in Toss Woollaston: Family and friends with the exhibition's curator Jill Trevelyan. Jill will also talk about editing the book Toss Woollaston: A Life in Letters. Meet by the floortalk poster at the entrance to the exhibition, Level 4. Free entry.

Wednesday 10

12 noon-12.30pm: Melville Intermediate School Cultural Performing Arts. See these students perform kapa haka and items from their Cook Island repertoire. The Marae, Level 4. Free entry.

Saturday 13

Qui tutto bene Opening weekend - M.C. Mr Lorenzo Buhne. 1pm-1.30pm: Il Coro Italiano - The Italian Choir. Hear well-known songs from Naples and other parts of Italy. This choir was formed 20 years ago and still has half its original members. Wellington Foyer, Level 2. Free entry.

1.30pm-2pm: Piero Damosso. Hear this Italian-born vocalist sing familiar love songs in Italian and English. Piero has been lead singer in Italian bands and now works as a solo artist. Wellington Foyer, Level 2. Free entry.

2.30pm-4.10pm: Fuori dal Mondo (Not of this World) film screening. Enjoy this award-winning film in the finest tradition of heart-warming Italian cinema. Presented courtesy of NZ Italian Film Festival. Soundings Theatre, Level 2. Free entry.

Sunday 14

Qui tutto bene Opening weekend - M.C. Mr Lorenzo Buhne. 1pm-1.45pm: Neapolitan play and poetry reading. Hear Antonio Cacace and Eloisa Ascoli present poems from Naples and excerpts of plays by Neapolitan playwright Eduardo de Filippo. The Marae, Level 4. Free entry.

2pm-3pm: Club Garibaldi Tarantella Dancers and the Mediterranean Trio. See these two colourful troupes perform an exciting repertoire of Italian folk dance, accompanied by Neapolitan and other Italian songs and melodies. Wellington Foyer, Level 2. Free entry.

2pm-3pm: 'Bring a Textile Treasure Day.' Hey kids! Bring along a small textile treasure - gran's teacosy, mum's special dress, great grandad's cap - for identification by our dress and textile specialist, Angela Lassig. Also, see some of Te Papa's weird and wonderful fashion items and guess what they are. Sorry, Te Papa doesn't do valuations on objects. Inspiration Station, Level 4. Free entry.

Friday 19

12.30pm-12.45pm: Te Purapura o Tangaroa. See students from a cluster of kohanga reo from Te Wainuiarua, Whanganui, perform traditional Mäori kapa haka. The Marae, Level 4. Free entry.

Saturday 20

1pm-2pm: Carousel. Hear this innovative quartet from Wellington play original music with echoes of classical, jazz, newgrass, Celtic, tango, and gypsy. The Marae, Level 4. Free entry.

Sunday 21

12 noon-12.30pm & 1.30pm-2pm. Out on the Street: 70s Dance Fever. This high-energy dance show features favourite hits from the Rocky Horror Picture Show, Billy Idol, Tom Jones, HotLegs and The Bee Gees - performed by students of the Wellington Performing Arts Centre. Wellington Foyer, Level 2. Free entry.

12 noon-12.45pm & 2pm-2.45pm: Qui Tutto Bene bilingual exhibition floortalk. Presented in English and Italian, History Curator Lynette Townsend and Conservator Carolina Izzo will speak about themes and objects of the exhibition Qui Tutto Bene -The Italians in New Zealand. Community Gallery, Level 4, meet at the Qui Tutto Bene exhibition entrance. Free entry.

Monday 22

6.30pm-8.30pm: Farr: Blitz. See iconic New Zealand composer and percussionist Gareth Farr with Strike and NZ Army Band as they perform Blitz, a showcase of Farr's most explosive and dramatic works. Soundings Theatre, Level 2. Admission charges apply. Book through Ticketek (04) 384 3840.

Saturday 27

A DAY WITH THE NEW ZEALAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AT TE PAPA All events free.

11am-11.30am: Peter and the Wolf. This Russian classic is ideally suited to introducing children to the orchestra. With conductor Hamish McKeich and narrator Kevin Keys, this performance is designed particularly for children aged 6-10 years. The Marae, Level 4.

11.30am-12.15pm: NZSO percussion section. Hear percussion pieces on a range of instruments. At the end, there'll be an opportunity for children to try the bass drum. Wellington Foyer, Level 2.

12.30pm-1pm: Peter and the Wolf. This Russian classic is ideally suited to introducing children to the orchestra. With conductor Hamish McKeich and narrator Kevin Keys, this performance is particularly designed for children aged 6-10 years. The Marae, Level 4.

1.15pm-2pm: NZSO percussion section. Hear percussion pieces on a range of instruments. At the end, there'll be an opportunity for children to try the bass drum. Wellington Foyer, Level 2.

3pm-4pm: The NZSO Family Concert. Hear best-loved works from famous composers including Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty, Mendelssohn's Wedding March, and waltzes and polkas by Johann Strauss - with conductor Hamish McKeich. Wellington Foyer, Level 2.

Sunday 28

1pm-2pm: Out on the Street - curators' floortalk. Join our curators as they each speak to their speciality within this exciting new exhibition: Robyn Anderson, Exhibition Curator; Athol McCredie, Acting Senior Curator Art and Visual Culture; Angela Lassig, Senior Curator History; Dougal Austin, Curator Mätauranga Mäori. Meet by the floortalk poster at the entrance to the exhibition, Level 5. Free entry.

2pm-2.45pm: Discovery Hour: Tïvaevae. Hey kids! Did you know that in the Cook Islands a tïvaevae is much more than just a quilt? Learn more from Te Papa's Collection Manager Pacific, Grace Hutton, then make a cool cardboard tïvaevae. PlaNet Pasifika, Level 4. Free entry.

SHORT-TERM EXHIBITIONS:

Qui Tutto Bene: The Italians in New Zealand Te Papa and the Italian community combine to present a fresh and fascinating look at what it means to be Italian in New Zealand. Qui Tutto Bene is an exploration of the colourful history and wonderfully diverse influence of this small vibrant community. Opens 13 November. Level 4. Free entry.

Out on the Street: New Zealand in the 1970s Tutu te puehu Come and remember the protests, the personalities, the long hair, and eye-popping fashions of a decade when alternative voices rose to challenge the establishment. Opens 20 November. Level 5. Free entry.

Toi Te Papa Art of the Nation: 1940-today

Showcasing over 100 of the nation's most significant artworks and taonga from Te Papa's collections. The first part of a major project, this exhibition includes works by Colin McCahon, Ralph Hotere, and Rita Angus. Level 5. Free entry.

Shawls: the elegant drape

Showcasing the rich textures and exquisite patterns of a selection of shawls from Te Papa's extensive collection. Until September 2005. Free entry.

Toss Woollaston: family and friends

Looks at New Zealand painter Toss Woollaston's early years and his key relationships during that time. Free entry.

Te Awa Tupua: The Whanganui Iwi Exhibition

In partnership with Te Papa, Whanganui iwi present stories and taonga from their unique Whanganui river culture, from Te Kähui Maunga (the mountain clan) to Tangaroa (the sea). The exhibition's central theme is contained in the whakatauakï (proverb), 'E rere kau mai te awa nui mai Te Kähui Maunga ki Tangaroa, ko au te awa ko te awa ko au.' (The great river flows from the mountain clan to Tangaroa, I am the river; the river is me.) Until May 2006. Free entry.

Wild Design: A fresh look at nature

Enjoy a visual feast of photographs, objects, and artworks that bring you up close to design in the natural world. Until late 2005. Free entry.

Ngä Toko Rima | Contemporary clayworks

Out of the creation stories of fire, water, and earth, five leading Mäori artists create powerful new works in clay. Until April 2005. Free entry.

ENDS

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