Sustainable Arts Festival a first for MIT

June 12, 2013

Sustainable Arts Festival a first for MIT

The unique multicultural community and environment of South Auckland will be celebrated in an exploration of art and sustainability at the Grounded Festival being held later this month.

The family friendly event is being held over three days at Manukau Institute of Technology’s Faculty of Creative Arts and at the Ōtara Creek Reserve from Thursday June 27 to Saturday June 29.

It will include a craft market of locally produced goods with a sustainable bent; printmaking, clay-making, drawing, weaving and creative writing workshops; art exhibitions, public talks and live performances. The MIT café will be open during the festival and Hangi food will also be on sale on Saturday afternoon.

MIT Lecturer in Creative Arts, Richard Orjis says, “The festival is about show casing our local artistic talent and exploring what sustainability means to the arts.”

“It’s an exciting opportunity for the South Auckland community to be exposed to a wide range of interactive and fun creative events including performing arts, creative writing and visual arts,” he says.

“There will be plenty of activities for children including weaving workshops hosted by the Pasifika Mamas and also a clay workshop run by the Papakura art gallery.”

A highlight will be the opening of a sculpture walk in the Ōtara Creek Reserve on the Friday evening featuring the work of eight artists and Melanie Himiona's performance Ahi-Kā.

“The sculpture work includes an installation by artist Tiffany Singh called “Fly me up to where you are” which includes hundreds of hand painted flags from local primary school children expressing their individual hopes and dreams,” says Richard Orjis.

The Roots Creative Entrepreneurs, South Auckland's own creativity and sustainability superstars will also be building a gateway on-site.

For those interested in horticulture and gardening, landscape designers Xanthe White and Philip Smith will be holding a talk about how they bring sustainability into their work.

Auckland Council will be demonstrating composting techniques as part of their drive to support the community to be more sustainable in terms of waste minimisation ahead of changes to recycling in South Auckland.

The Grounded Festival is funded through Auckland Council’s Creative Communities and Manukau Institute of Technology. See the full programme and all details at http://www.facebook.com/facultyofcreativearts

GROUNDED // Festival of Sustainable Arts
Where // Faculty of Creative Arts, MIT and Ōtara Creek Reserve, 50 Lovegrove Crescent, Ōtara
When // 27-29th June, 2013
Thursday / 27 June

8:40am / Festival Opening and blessing by Wati Ratana
9am-10am / What is Sustainability in Design? Manda Judd from Lovenotes
10am-12pm / Landscape Designers Xanthe White & Philip Smith
12pm-1pm / Artists A.D. Schierning & Richard Orjis talk about their project, Hauora, a medicinal garden in central Auckland
2pm-3pm / The Roots Creative Entrepreneurs talk about their work and the gateway project they will be constructing during the GROUNDED festival
3pm-4pm / Artist, Mesepa Edwards shares her knowledge of the use of recycled materials

Friday / 28 June

9am-1pm / Eco ink print workshops with print makers Mike Lewis & Steve Lovett
12pm onwards / Hāngi will be on sale
12pm – 5pm / Clay Workshop
1pm-4pm / Poet Robert Sullivan conducts writing workshops and a poetry reading
2pm – 5pm / Drawing workshop with artist Frances Hansen
9am-5pm / Composting display
6pm / The public opening of the Otara Creek Reserve Sculpture Walk and Melanie Himiona's performance Ahi-Kā,

Saturday / 29 June

9am-3pm / The Roots Creative Entreprenuers Recycling Workshop /Constructing a vertical herb garden and light fixture
10am-2pm / Weaving workshop and display by the Pacifica Mamas
10am-5pm / Otara Creek Reserve Sculpture Walk featuring an exciting array of works from local artists
10am-5pm / Drawing and Print Exhibition
10am-5pm / Plant Sales
10am-5pm / Recycled Furniture Stall
10am-5pm / Re-use centre of free recycled materials
10am-5pm / Pop-up craft market
12pm onwards / Hāngi will be on sale
12pm – 5pm / Clay Workshop
1pm-2pm / Make your own Eco friendly cleaners with Anita Crisinel / Bring an empty container and spray bottle

ENDS

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