Toihoukura students paid a fitting tribute to the celestial beings Matariki during the launch of their art exhibition Mata Ariki in July.
The annual event was also a special celebration to mark the beginning of Toihoukura’s 20-year milestone as a Māori Visual Arts School in the Tairāwhiti region.
More than 100 people gathered for the inspiring night of culture and creativity which featured Rotorua-based and acclaimed international artist, Lyonel Grant as guest speaker.
Steve Gibbs, Toihoukura associate professor and principal tutor said the Te Mata Ariki exhibition gave students the opportunity to exhibit major artworks that have been in development since the beginning of the year.
The students were encouraged to look to the stars to find out about korero of old.
“Be immersed and consumed in that wisdom to find what sustains you. Enrich the world with your knowledge,” is one of many valuable Toihoukura life lessons.
Founding tutor Derek Lardelli and first year degree student Te Kanawa Ngarotata opened Te Mata Ariki with karakia. Following the blessing was a resounding waiata and kapa haka performance of support by all the students.
Te Kanawa, with fellow students Christie Patumaka and Maiko Lewis gave accounts of what inspired them to create their artworks that were included in the Te Mata Ariki showing.
Te Kanawa spoke about the fine detail technique used “which was quite tricky” to complete his Kato Pūhoro piece – an acrylic on board design.
Maiko said she was in a positive state when she created her acrylic on canvas Te Pō. Jo-Ha-Kyu and hopes her work evokes the same feeling for viewers.
Christie’s acrylic, iron, board piece B.S.U which stands for Brown Social Underclass depicts her frustration with the negative statistics associated with Māori and Pacifika people.
Lyonel (Ngāti Pikiao, Te Arawa), an arts Laureate award recepient in 2009, delivered an engaging lecture about the journey of his life as a Māori artist, the future of traditional Māori art, and its place in the world.
His delivery was the first in a series of public lectures set to take place at Toihoukura throughout 2013.
“Lyonel’s association with Toihoukura as both close friend and art industry colleague has spanned two decades and more,” says Steve.
“He has supported major projects, and has inspired many students over the years.”
Lyonel paid tribute to the continued success of Toihoukura which has grown from the informal arts training base – “The Barn” to a multi-studio, two-gallery space that provides training at both diploma and degree level.
He was also impressed with the quality of thought and technique displayed in the art pieces on show in the exhibition.
Lyonel enrolled in the Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, Rotorua, in 1975 under the tuition of master carver John Taiapa, and graduated with honours in 1978.
He was one of the concept developers behind the Gold Award Winning New Zealand entry of the Chelsea Garden Show exhibit in London 2004 and the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, China.
Lyonel was born in Rotorua and was brought up in a close-knit Māori community at Taheke.
Toihoukura’s academic and art practice programmes have hosted numerous workshops and presentations and supported community, national and international projects, this year.
Special guest lecturers who are leaders in their fields of expertise have included former Tairāwhiti Museum director David Butts who is now with the Ministry of Heritage and Culture. Mr Butts gave a detailed insight into Māori taonga (treasures) and its place in modern museums.
Painting “spaces between spaces” was the topic for one of the country’s best-known contemporary painters Shane Cotton while New Zealand’s highly regarded and accomplished sculptor Dr Brett Graham spoke about Māori thinking in relation to contemporary sculpture.
The development of contemporary kainga uku was the focus for Manos Mathan who has been at the forefront of the Māori ceramic movement since the mid 1980s and Baye Riddell from Tokomaru Bay who uses local clay dug from his family land to gain a sense of connection with his Ngāti Porou tīpuna.
Other significant presentations over the first part of the academic year for Toihoukura students were Tā Moko – Derek Lardelli, Wai Tuhi (customary painting) – Steve Gibbs and Whatu Raranga with master weaver Christina Wirihana.
Projects have included the C Company Waka, the United Nation’s Turapa and the National Tā Moko wānanga.
Future guest speakers for up and coming lectures include Fred Graham (sculpture) and Richard Nunns and Horomona Horo (taonga puoro) and Manos Nathan (uku).
Like Lyonel, all of these guest speakers are recognised on an international stage as tohunga in their respective fields.