INDEPENDENT NEWS

Painting for Equality

Published: Fri 19 Apr 2013 12:43 PM
Painting for Equality
For Immediate Release:
NZ Contemporary Maori Gay Artist, Te Mete, is on a mission to support Human Equality Rights.
Te Mete Solomon Smith is a deeply symbolic, abstract, portrait and landscape Oil Painter of Ngati Porou, Ngati Ranginui, Ngai te Rangi, Te Arawa and Tainui (Māori), Irish, French decent. His vision is to popularise Contemporary New Zealand Art with his own "embrace it bitch" twist and messages of all human equality.
On the 18th May Te Mete will be embarking on his first step to achieving his vision with a solo exhibition his work at New Zealands 3rd annual Gay Ball, being held at the Chateau Tongariro Hotel. During the Ball Te Mete will exhibit works from his ‘Pink’ and ‘Same Love’ series. He has selected one of his favourite pieces to auction with proceeds to be donated towards the New Zealand Aids Foundation.
The Ball is a ‘must do’ on the annual Gay calendar and Te Mete has combined forces with organisers and the NZ Aids Foundation to help grow awareness and fight for equality in New Zealand.
“I am elated to announce the inclusion of a Solo Art Exhibition by up and coming Contemporary Maori Artist Te Mete. His oil on canvas works are exquisite, thought provoking and simply sublime,” says Chateau General Manager, Kathy Guy,
Te Mete will also be using his artistic skill to support GABA in their upcoming annual Fundraising Auction in August and says he is also planning another Solo Exhibition to follow on from the Annual Auction.
Te Mete recently met with Labour MP and creator of the Marriage Equality Bill, Louisa Wall in her Manurewa home. Louisa agreed to meet with the upcoming young Artist to have her portrait painted in aid of “helping Te Mete spread the message of equality through art” and support agencies such as the New Zealand Aids Foundation and GABA.
Chairperson and Spokesman for GABA, Gresham Bradley, explains that “GABA is New Zealand’s largest LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) membership organisation. We raise funds for The GABA Charitable Trust which is then distributed as Grants, Scholarships and Awards throughout the community. Having support from influential people and Artists of a high caliber like Te Mete is truly amazing”.
There will be 10 or more pieces of his work exhibited and for auction at the Chateau Tongariro Hotel, more details and artworks are shown on his website, www.temete.co.nz.
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