News from the West Wind | September

News from the West Wind | September

Small Space - Clementine Edwards: Bloem en Blad
22 September - 23 November 2017

A featherweight parcel arrives from the north. In it is the entire Bloem en Blad exhibition: green string, hatched eggs, seeds of the dandelion flower. This is a show about lightness in spring. Working with materials from Rotterdam, her new hometown, Clementine Edwards gives form to the fragility of the moments produced by regeneration.
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Leading Ladies
7 October 2017 – 28 January 2018
Opening Saturday 14 October, 4pm

Though most histories of New Zealand studio pottery begin with the Anglo-Oriental movement, the earlier arts and crafts movement holds many examples of sophisticated and serious pottery, often made by women. This exhibition looks at the work of five key female potters working in the early twentieth century with the aim of understanding how their contexts enabled their work and shaped the directions their practices took. Curated by Moyra Elliott. Read more

What's On: Exhibitions

Robert George: a memoir for falling light

2 September – 19 November 2017

Robert George’s work is typified by his love of surrealist cinema, the materiality of film and a constant exploration of the human condition. This new film explores the psychological and emotional impact of an impending loss. Multiple channels are employed to entangle the coping mechanisms we adopt to deal with fear and heartache, privileging a plurality of events unfolding at any one moment. Read more

Sarah Smuts-Kennedy: Light Language

2 September – 29 October 2017

Sarah Smuts-Kennedy operates on the proviso that all materials have energy or vibrational qualities that act differently in different situations and arrangements. Light Language — Smuts-Kennedy’s post-McCahon House residency exhibition — takes its cue from Colin McCahon’s description of November light as 'a miracle' he experienced during his first year living in Titirangi. These works use the daily occurrence and healing potential of light. Read more

Christine Hellyar: Looking, Seeing, Thinking

26 August – 5 November 2017

Acclaimed artist Christine Hellyar has long been interested in how people see and depict the landscape. Working with different materials and formats, she presents here botanical drawings of a flooded Coastland Broadleaf Forest in the Waitakere Ranges, printed onto silk, alongside sculptural textile figures and upholstered furniture to combine contemporary scenes with historic materials and images. Read more

The Asia-Pacific Century: Part Two
29 July – 1 October 2017

Over the next 20 years, Aotearoa’s Māori, Asian, and Pacific populations will grow to make up over 50% of the total population. The Asia-Pacific Century is an ongoing project that responds to this shift. For this iteration, Te Uru will host an open research hub where participants can engage with important ideas, objects, and histories, as well as discussions and workshops. Curated by Emma Ng and Ioana Gordon-Smith. Read more

Oliver Perkins: Japanese Laurel
5 August – 8 October 2017

Recent McCahon House artist-in-residence, Oliver Perkins, produces works that are reminders of paintings' relationship to common objects, making reference to art histories, materials, and thought processes. Here, Perkins looks at the potential of examining a singular ‘painting type’ through the concerns of local architecture, construction methods and colour as attributes that support a more intuitive attempt to articulate the desire of production. Read more

What's On: Events

Artist Talk: Sarah Smuts-Kennedy

Sunday 24 September, 1pm

Artist Sarah Smuts-Kennedy will present an artist talk in conversation with Media and Communications Professor Laurence Simmons and contemporary art curator Natasha Conland. Smuts-Kennedy operates on the proviso that all materials have energy or vibrational qualities. Light Language — Smuts-Kennedy’s post-McCahon House residency exhibition — takes its cue from Colin McCahon’s description of November light as 'a miracle' he experienced during his first year living in Titirangi. Read more

Te Uru AGM

Sunday 24 September, 2pm

Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery Incorporated will be holding its Annual General Meeting this week. All members are welcome to attend. The Governance Committee looks forward to seeing you at the AGM and thanks you for your support of our architecturally award-winning art gallery, a civic asset of national significance in the heart of West Auckland. Read more

The heART of the Matter: Documentary Film Screening

Sunday 1 October, 1pm - free

This documentary traces the changes in educational philosophy, which established a thoroughly bicultural and arts-centered education system in Aotearoa. Gordon Tovey and his team of artists and art specialists fostered the lively classrooms that New Zealand is familiar with today, in stark contrast to the rote-learning environments preceding them. Director Luit Bieringa will be present to introduce this special screening. Read more

What's on: Learning Centre

Gatherings on the Manukau
7–28 September

View images and archives relating to the Manukau Harbour, loved and enjoyed by many. Learn how Te Manukanuka o Hoturoa has been used over time for sourcing kaimoana and as a means of travel. The Manukau has a rich history of navigation, settlement and recreation. This exhibition will travel around the edges of the harbour as if spread by Te Hau a Uru, the wind that blows from the west, from Titirangi to Waiuku. Read more

Holiday programme:
Along the Silk Trail
2–6 October, 10am – 1pm

Monday: Make a vibrant artwork inspired by rangoli and the colours of India.
Tuesday: Create an ancient Egyptian ink painting and embellished frame.
Wednesday: Engrave a Moroccan inspired air-dried clay tile.
Thursday: Carve a foam print of a fish over a Japanese environment.
Friday: Design a beautiful fabric wall hanging inspired by Persian rugs.
$35/day | 6–12 years
Read more | Book

Holiday programme:
Just for five and six year olds

Tuesday 10 October: Make a vibrant artwork inspired by rangoli and the stunning colours of India.
Thursday 12 October: Carve a foam print of a fish swimming over a background of Japanese flora and fauna.
$35/day
Read more | Book

Botanical Drawing with Christine Hellyar
14 October, 10am – 3pm

A unique opportunity to join renowned artist Christine Hellyar for a botanical drawing workshop. Develop methods to enhance your drawing techniques considering line, tone, composition, space and gesture. We'll view Christine’s current exhibition, Looking, Seeing, Thinking. Be inspired by the diversity of plants in the Waitākere Ranges, both native and exotic. Please bring a plant specimen from home.
$70 Read more | Book

Studio workshops for children - after school - Mini Mondays
New in Term 4 - every Monday

Join us on Monday afternoons during the school term for an art activity that only takes an hour. Each week we'll have a different project that will challenge and inspire. Sometimes we'll go for a tour of the gallery, and other days we'll create a special mini artwork to take home. The focus will be on experimentation and exploration of different media.
$10/session | 6–10 years
Read more | Bookings essential

School programmes
Primary and intermediate: Term four

Fossil Garden: Study NZ fossils before sculpting a series of clay fossils to place onto a layered backdrop. We will also view the large-scale silk paintings of native plants in Christine Hellyar’s current exhibition. (Yrs 2-8)
Clay Feast: Explore the magical properties of clay while viewing our Portage Ceramic Awards exhibition and contemporary artists that use food as inspiration. Using clay tools, shape, texture and form a favourite food item in clay. (Yrs 1-8) Read more | Book

In the neighbourhood

Lopdell Precinct

Te Uru is part of Lopdell Precinct, an arts and culture facility in Titirangi Village, supported by the Waitakere Ranges Local Board of Auckland Council. Lopdell House next door is home to The Upstairs Gallery, Titirangi Theatre, McCahon House Trust, Flicks Titirangi, Deco Eatery and local businesses. Open seven days per week, come and visit us for some great exhibitions and shows or grab a coffee and take in the stunning views from the rooftop terrace of historic Lopdell House. Read more

ENDS

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