Free public forum Friday on Wellington's future

Free public forum Friday on Wellington's future

MEDIA RELEASE
28 JULY 2010

The Urban Dream Brokerage
Ilott Concert Chamber, Wellington Town Hall
6pm on Friday 29 July
Free entry

Making Way For New Voices - And Tortoises - In The Streets And Empty Shops Of Wellington

Public art programme Letting Space is pleased to announce the artists who have been selected to pitch their creative ideas for a more lively use of vacant or under-utilised space in Wellington city, at Friday evening’s free public event The Urban Dream Brokerage at Wellington Town Hall.

The artists selected to pitch are Tim Barlow, James R Ford, Shona Jaunas with Natalia Mann, and Bruce Mahalshi with Bev Hong.

The forum is a unique opportunity to hear creative, non-commercial ideas for the use of commercial space, as well as visions for a vibrant Wellington from the property sector, brought together by the art and property project, Letting Space. The Urban Dream Brokerage is run in association with the Wellington City Council.

The first pitcher Tim Barlow is a Wellington artist with an MFA from Massey University Wellington 2011. He has extensive experience nationally and internationally in film and television art departments, and specialises in crossing the barriers of film production and art production.

James R Ford is a conceptual artist whose practice explores notions of repetition, pathos and the everyday. Ford has a very British sense of humour and revels in word play and language puns, delving into the activities and influences of his childhood. Ford studied at Goldsmiths in London, and has exhibited internationally.
Natalia Mann is a musician and composer. She holds a BMusPerf from the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne, and in recent years has worked with Richard Nunns, Bic Runga, Gareth Farr, the NZSO, and this year will be working on a collaborative solo harp dance collaboration with Black Grace dance company.

Mann is pitching with Shona Jaunas, who studied music and commerce at Victoria University and acting at the Drama Studio London. She was a founding partner of Strung Out Quartet and has collaborated with many artists. She toured internationally with acclaimed theatre company American Drama Group Europe and has played Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Bar in London.

Bruce Mahalski is a multi-media conceptual artist who has exhibited in galleries all over New Zealand since 1997. He is also a published author and commercial illustrator. Bruce has a particular passion for natural and local history and often combines aspects of these interests with both his commercial and his contemporary art practice.

Bev is of second generation New Zealand born Chinese heritage. She is a social issues researcher who has worked primarily with the public sector over the past 20 years. More recently, she has developed a visual contemporary art focus and has a specific interest in exploring the areas of sustainability, globalisation, visible difference and identity.

The Urban Dream brokerage is sponsored by Wellington City Council as part of the council’s public engagement period for the Toward 2040: A Smart Green Wellington. Toward 2040 details what Wellington City Council think Wellington needs to do as a city to make sure it continues to thrive in a rapidly changing local and global environment.

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