Friday, July 30, 2004

The No.8 Wire - Issue 10

An Electronic Alert for 378 of Wellington's Creative People


WHAT IF...

If you wish to be removed from this email list, please send a message to arts@wcc.govt.nz

If you know someone who might want to be added, please send a message and email address to arts@wcc.govt.nz

If you have contents, events, opportunities, or comments to contribute to the No. 8 Wire, please send complete details to arts@wcc.govt.nz

If you want to find signs of a creative city, just continue reading...

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10.00
ART WITH A SPLASH

The annual Artsplash, Wellington's Young People's Arts Festival, kicks off on Monday at the Michael Fowler Centre. The stage will see 10,000 local kids expressing themselves through dance, orchestra, choir, kapa haka, and everything in between. From Tuesday (through August 3-12) the Artsplash Exhibition, featuring over 1,000 works of art, will be on view in Shed 11. George Bernard Shaw might have famously remarked that "Youth is wasted on the young," but creativity certainly isn't. The Artsplash Festival proves that.

Readers of the No.8 Wire can download the complete brochure at
www.feelinggreat.co.nz/kids/index.php
Or read the press release at
http://www.bigidea.co.nz/article.php?sid=2188&mode=thread&order=0
Contact Eric (385-1929 or arts@wcc.govt.nz) if interested in sneaking into a rehearsal, concert, workshop, or showcase.

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10.01
ART GETS ON THE BUS

An interesting new project has come up, involving original art, a local shuttle bus, and the Interisland Line. The result is a unique opportunity for a local illustrator or artist. Here's the skinny…

Interisland Line has developed a few concepts for artwork to be applied all over its shuttle bus. They have asked me to invite/seek artists who might be interested in looking at the brief and working up a design for consideration. The original illustrations will be reproduced/blown up to vinyl decals then applied to the exterior of the bus on September 18. The selected artist will need to have finished illustrations (on paper) by August 23. There is a healthy commission and materials will be provided.

Interested? Contact Eric (arts@wcc.govt.nz or 385-1929) to learn how to put your design at the front of the bus.   

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10.02
CINEMA, MUSIC, COMEDIC GENIUS

Dear No.8 Wire,
 
We still have a good number of seats available for our Live Cinema screening of Buster Keaton¹s spectacular comedy, Steamboat Bill Jr., at the Embassy this Sunday at 2.00 and 6.15 pm.

 
Timothy Brock, the leading American composer of silent film scores, will conduct the NGC Wellington Sinfonia¹s performance of his terrific original music for Steamboat Bill and the classic Keaton short One Week.  A packed Civic roared their approval of the Auckland Philharmonia performance (not to mention the Keaton film) last Sunday.

 
We¹re keen to ensure a similar experience in Wellington - and to end the Festival with a bang. Take advantage of our No.8 Wire offer and purchase full-price tickets for $20 (previously $35) and children¹s tickets for $10 (previously $15) by mentioning the "Arts Partners" price when making your bookings with Ticketek or any Film Festival venue.
 
With best wishes
Bill Gosden
Director, Telecom 33rd Wellington Film Festival
www.nzff.telecom.co.nz

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10.03
POET IN THE GARDEN
http://www.wellington.govt.nz/news/display-item.php?id=1916

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10.04
SEASCAPE COMES TO THE SURFACE

Thanks to Ellen, Ben, Mica, Manuela, Aaron and Amy for bringing this creative project to life. DOC and Wellington City Council are grateful to everyone who helped turn a ramshackle wall into a bright and shining seascape. See the following websites for details, or just amble over to the Freyberg end of the Oriental parade footpath. A wee bit more is attached below...

http://www.feelinggreat.co.nz/arts/detail_events.php?ev_ids[]=5445
http://www.doc.govt.nz/Whats-New/presult.asp?prID=1501

ORIENTAL BAY SEASCAPE MURAL
Our Marine Life - Let's Protect It

This mural project was produced in autumn 2004, by the Department of Conservation and Wellington City Council. It was created by lead mural artist, Ellen Coup, and a team of dedicated illustrators: Manuela Adreani, Amy Brennan, Aaron Frater, Mica Still and Ben Walden. Original concept and project management was provided by Eric Vaughn Holowacz, WCC Community Arts Coordinator.

The species depicted on this mural reflect those found in our harbour. Our vision is to use public art to raise awareness of the local marine environment, and to stress the need to preserve and protect this habitat through individual and collective actions.

The Wellington harbour marine environment is subject to a number of threats, mostly brought about by human activities and pollution. As a result, the water quality in the harbour is reduced, and the vital habitat for many marine organisms is compromised.  Examples of pollution include general rubbish, sewage effluent, storm water (which carries heavy metals and other contaminants from roads), industrial and agricultural activities, and sedimentation from construction works. Other factors include deforestation or river works, oil and fuel spills from boats, and excessive noise by vessel traffic.  Growing problems in our marine environment include the risk of boat strike on dolphins or whales, coastal development (which destroys important habitats and contributes to a reduction in water quality), and invasion by exotic organisms, such as the noxious weed Undaria. We hope this mural will provide a source of education and inspiration, and a better awareness for the life under Wellington’s waters.

Scientific research and consultation has been provided by DOC, Te Papa, NIWA and Victoria University. Underwater photography and resources were kindly donated by Rob and Lynn Marshall. This community art mural was also made possible by our corporate sponsors: International Panel and Lumber, Resene Paints, Concrete Solutions, Benchmark Building Supplies, Ramset. All woodwork was kindly provided by sponsor Patrick King of Cut to Size.

This mural has been made by the community, for the community.

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10.05
GET IT WRITE

Applications are invited for Victoria University 2005 Writer in Residence, supported by Victoria University of Wellington and Creative New Zealand. It is open to writers in all areas of literary and creative activity, including drama, fiction and poetry, New Zealand art, biography, history, film, theatre, new media etc. Applicants should be authors of proven merit normally resident in New Zealand, or New Zealanders currently resident overseas. The successful applicant will take up residence in the International Institute of Modern Letters from 1 February 2005 to 31 January 2006. For further information visitwww.jobs@vuw.ac.nzor contact the HR Officer, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, tel 04 463 5840 or email hss-appoint@vuw.ac.nz, quoting reference no. HS-435. Applications close 31 August 2004.

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10.06
DRIVE BY ART IS IN THE AIR

Thanks to all the artists, teachers, and creative students who helped us fill Wellington's urban streetscape with bold original art. Drive by Art continues with several dozen new school banners along Oriental Parade, designed around an environmental theme for Conservation Week 2004. In addition, over 50 banners by local artists and arts groups have been installed above key streets in and around the city. Good news has also come to this modest public art project: Drive by Art has won the CNZ Creative Places Award in the Arts Provision category.

To honour everyone involved, we're planning a little party for 5:30pm on Thursday, August 19 at the City Gallery. Mark your calendar and join us, and check out these websites for more project information

http://wcc.govt.nz/news/display-item.php?id=1908

http://www.feelinggreat.co.nz

We've begun developing a profile section for all the Drive by Art banners.

http://www.feelinggreat.co.nz/events/detail_events.php?ev_ids%5B%5D=5385

We'd like to include details on the schools and artists who've created banners, as a way to promote your work and creative identity. If you have a banner flying over Wellington, please send us any or all of the following: biographical sketch, statement about your work, studio and contact details, your website, and anything else you would like included on the banner link. 

The city, and the streetscape, thank you.

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10.07
WELLINGTON LOVES TO JAZZ IT UP

Montana 8th
Wellington International Jazz Festival: 15th to 30th October, 2004
Now in our eighth year, we are proud to be presenting one of the most varied and exciting music festivals in New Zealand.

FEATURING
Dave Liebman with Ronan Guilfoyle Trio, Leila Adu, Anthony Donaldon Village Idiots, Carlos Actis Dato Quartet and many more great international and NZ artists.

Montana 8th Wellington International Jazz Festival:
www.jazzfestival.co.nz
info@jazzfestival.co.nz

Tel 64 4 385 9602
Fax 64 4 385 3987
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10.08
WILDLY CREATIVE

On Saturday 18 September, Karori Wildlife Sanctuary will be having a Spring Sketchings day. The enchanting sanctuary will be in Spring Mode, and this event will foster inspiration for drawing, painting or photography. Organisers are looking for artists and creative people who can offer workshops on-site during the day, and they are open to all suggestions. Rachael Dippie is the contact there.

And things get even more wildly creative at the Wellington Botanic Garden:

Tuesday 21 September is Poets Day and poet in residence, Dinah Hawken, will be leading the charge for that day.

Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 September is Tulip Weekend and a perfect opportunity for photography, painting, and sketching.

Saturday 2 October is the Tree Climbing competition - and many an interesting photo op!

Sunday 3 October will be the final hurrah with the Picnic in the Dell, kite making and flying and more activities yet to be confirmed.

Creative people interested in contributing to the Parks & gardens events and programming, should contact Amanda:

Amanda White
Visitor Services and Events Co-ordinator
Parks & Gardens
Phone: 04 472 5684
Mobile: 027 444 3753
Fax: 04 499 1903

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10.09
MR USSHER SAYS

My new exhibition opens this coming weekend on Saturday 31st July 2004. WOODEN SPOON CLUB is the second exhibition in a series of works exploring the domestic and social roles of Women in New Zealand during the 1950's.

There are 12 works in the show and all the works are painted onto the surface of old ironing boards. Nine are on standard size ironing boards, and new for this exhibition are three small accessory boards which were designed to clip onto the ironing boards for pressing sleeves - they apparently made it easier for housewives to iron their husbands shirts. You can see a sneak preview of 6 of the works on mywww.MrUssher.comwebsite. Pictures of the remaining 6 including "Queen Bee' and "Who Will Do Your Washing?" will be added to the website next week after the opening.

The exhibition is being held in my central Wellington studio, the address is Studio 4, Level 1, Anvil house, 138 Wakefield Street and the show opens at 6pm. Local jazz band TWINSET will be playing live and refreshments will be provided, there will be also be crates of Foxton Fizz due to popular demand after my last exhibition opening.

All the works in WOODEN SPOON CLUB will be available for sale from the opening night onwards, if you are interested in getting one of the ironing boards and you can't make it to the opening night the show is on for 3 weeks and the hours are from 10am - 5.30pm every day except for Monday and Thursday. The last show sold out quickly so if you are keen on getting an ironing board come along early on Saturday.

If you have any queries about the show or other questions please feel free to send me an email or give me a call, i will be in the studio doing housework all this week...

Mr Ussher

Studio Ph. 04 473 3141
Mobile Ph. 021 646 801

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10.10
WATERFRONT FUN

Waitangi Park Mural Wall Project seeks contributors
 
The Waitangi Park Mural Wall project will create a 180m long wall around the construction areas of the Waitangi Park redevelopment (formerly Chaffers Park).

The wall has been prepared to look like a strip of film, and most of the frames are being filled with creative images by schools from the Wellington Region. Look for the wall to go up, in back of Te Papa, next week.

There are some extra blank panels remaining, and local artists and cultural organisations are invited to make their own designs for what should become Wellington's longest continuous work of original art. The wall is made up of 80 1.8 x2.4m frames, and will remain around the construction site for 12-18 months.

Individuals or groups that would like to contribute should contact mural co-ordinator Mark O'Brien by email: monsta@xtra.co.nz or 04 9706667 or 0274 954596

The massive mural is sponsored by Positively Wellington Waterfront, and Dulux NZ, with project development and support from Wellington City Council's Community Arts Programme.

There's more information about the schools project at
http://www.feelinggreat.co.nz/arts/detail_events.php?ev_ids[]=5527
http://www.wellingtonwaterfront.co.nz/article.aspx?ArticleID=752
http://www.monsta.co.nz/index.cfm?id=12

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10.11
DOWNSIZING AT ROAR! GALLERY

Whoever said size doesn’t matter got it all wrong!
Let the artists run wild and experiment with subject matter and medium...but beware of those who stray from the bounds of 15 cubed! Believe us, size does matter!

In the upcoming group exhibition Tiny but Lively, at Roar! gallery proves that size is in fact of the utmost importance. Medium and subject matter are chosen at the artists discretion, however Roar! is challenging those willing to produce both 2D or 3D works which can and must not break out of the confines of 15x15x15cm. The results will no doubt be…tiny!

The exhibition, which runs from the 12-29th of August 2004. Sounds like a wee bit of fun. Get the long and short of it: Call Roar Gallery on 385-7602 or stop by 22 Vivian Street to size it up.  

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10.12
CAPITAL E OnTV ACTION DAY

The purpose of the Capital E OnTV Action Day is to give children an insight into the world behind the television screen. It is designed for children to have a hands-on learning experience using creative technology and to inspire them for their own future.

Capital E has a unique focus: Unique in Wellington for its child-centred focus, and unique in New Zealand for its creative perspective. It is a charitable trust that inspires, exemplifies, unlocks doors and opens grand vistas of opportunity for children. Capital E programmes explore and enhance creative thinking and action. We provide both the awareness of possibilities, and the means to make them reality for children taking part through our range of programmes:

OnTV – New Zealand’s only fully equipped television studio for schools and holiday programme groups to have hands-on experience in television production. Our facility includes a soundproofed control gallery with vision and sound mixing, an inspiring wardrobe and make up room and a large adjoining classroom.

Soundhouse NZ  - a world class music and multi media production suite in which young people can discover the exciting possibilities of combining music with technology.

National Theatre for Children – a dynamic theatre company that performs professional productions for young people in venues all over the country, including Capital E’s own MacKenzie Theatre.

The Capital E OnTV Action Day, is a free event that will be held on 7th August 2004, from 10am-4pm. We will be encouraging children, their families, and communities to visit Capital E to be involved in the following activities:

·       Learn about drawing animation

·       View some of the Lord of the Rigs props up close

·       See how  dolly tracks work and talk with a professional Grip

·       See Television/Film make-up artists create their stuff and give everyone a go

·       Experience blue-screening in Capital E’s Ontv studio where children can go on screen in front of the camera

·       Be part of a voice recording session – a chance to be part of a film for the Capital E National Arts Festival 2005

·       Watch a  Director of Photography in action and see the magic of lighting effects

·       View films for children either produced by children and/or adults


Children will be offered the opportunity for future creative workshops and the chance to be involved in an animation film that will be launched at the Capital E National Arts Festival in March 2005 (a festival for young people and their families).

For details, see
http://www.capitale.org.nz/
http://www.capitale.org.nz/whats_on/exhibitions_events/ONTV%20Action%20Day.htm
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10.13
LET'S SET THE DATE

The Date Palm Film Festival 2004 (formerly the Middle Eastern Film Festival), will be hot on the heels of the Telecom New Zealand Film Festival 2004. Scheduled dates are as follows:

Wellington 2-8 September at The Paramount
Christchurch 9-15 September at The Regency on Worcester
Auckland 16-21 September at The Capitol

Audiences will have their first chance to see some of the best and latest films to come out of the region, with a film festival focused entirely on the Middle East and North Africa. Bringing you six feature, three documentary and two short films rarely seen in the southern hemisphere.

We have comedy, classic, romance, social, gay and political films, details will be available late July.

Festival details will be on our website late July
www.meff.org.nz

Best wishes from the team at the Date Palm
Nadra
Festival Director, Date Palm Film Festival
P.O Box 11-494
Wellington, New Zealand
Tel 04-236 0100 / 025 285 1194
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10.14
FILM EXPORT

Sima Urale, an award-winning writer and director, has been awarded the inaugural $40,000 Fulbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writers’ Residency at the University of Hawaii.

The Wellington filmmaker, who was born in Samoa in 1967 before immigrating with her family to New Zealand in 1974, will take up the three-month residency in August. She will work on the script for a feature-length film entitled Moana, which explores traditional stories of Polynesian myths and legends within a contemporary urban setting.

“I’ve written the first draft of the script but the residency will give me the time I need to do further research and really focus on my writing and what I want the film to say,” Urale says. “I’m wanting to say several things but I need to define the one thread that matters above all else.

“I’m also looking forward to using the archival resources at the University of Hawaii and meeting with other Pacific writers and filmmakers.”

The residency, based at the University’s Centre for Pacific Studies, is a partnership between Creative New Zealand, Fulbright New Zealand and the University of Hawaii.

Actor Cliff Curtis, who first met Urale when they were fellow acting students at Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School, describes her as “New Zealand’s most exciting talent in film”.

Urale graduated from Toi Whakaari in 1989 and after two years as a professional actor, she decided to pursue her ambitions as a director. In 1994, she graduated with a bachelors degree in arts, film and television at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne.

“I love theatre but I knew I’d have to choose film and television if I wanted to express the stories and opinions that I think are relevant to society,” she says. “The awesome thing about film is that it can travel to the other side of the world and it has a long life. Rather than make the audience come to me I decided to go to the audience with film and television.”

In 1996, she wrote and directed a 15-minute film, O Tamaiti. This film, funded by the New Zealand Film Commission, went on to win eight international awards, including Best Short Film at Venice, Asia-Pacific, Chicago, Aspen and Newport Beach film festivals, as well as the New Zealand Film and Television Awards.

A year later, she directed the documentary Velvet Dreams for Television New Zealand’s Work of Art series and it went on to win Best Documentary Award at the Yorkton International Film Festival in Canada.

Another of her films, Still Life, is about an elderly couple and won Best Short Film at the 2001 Montreal Film Festival. It also won Best Director, Best Script, and Best Art Department at the Drifting Clouds International Film Festival. Urale credits her success in film to determination and dealing with social issues close to her heart. “I always strive to make a film that says what I want it to say. If I didn’t have anything to say, I wouldn’t make films.”

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10.15
POETRY AND MUSIC FUSION

Tuwhare words to be set to music
 
Kaka Point wordsmith Hone Tuwhare, who recently had his poetry immortalised in a steel sculpture, is to have his work put to music.

Arts funder Toi Maori has invited Wellington-based musician Charlotte Yates to produce a compilation album of Tuwhare's poems set to contemporary original music written by some of the country's leading recording artists.

It is the second such project for Yates, who previously producedBaxter , a compilation of poetry by James K. Baxter set to music in 2000. The Tuwhare CD is timed for release in August next year.

Toi Maori chairman Waana Davis said Tuwhare was a living treasure and the organisation, a Creative New Zealand-sponsored charitable trust, was privileged to be honouring him with the CD.

Last week, a new sculpture by local artist Philippa Wilson featuring the words of a Tuwhare poem was unveiled at the University of Otago.

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10.16
STATE OF GRACE

Black Grace Dance Company will make its debut in the United States at the Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival situated in the Berkshire Mountains, Massachusetts, from 12 to 15 August.

Black Grace, invited to perform at what dancers and choreographers regard as the “Olympics” of dance, will perform alongside such dance luminaries as Mark Morris, Paul Taylor Dance Company (United States), Batsheva Dance Company (Israel), Nacho Duato (Spain), Shen Wei Dance Arts (United States) and the Boston Ballet (United States) - to name a few.

“Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival attracts the world’s leading dance producers and programmers and is the perfect international platform to launch the company to the vast United States market,” says Ian Scobie, Director, Arts Projects Australia and international representative to Black Grace.

“For international audiences, Black Grace represents a true discovery. Vital, original and exciting.”
Founded in 1933 by visionary dancer, educator and choreographer Ted Shawn, Jacob’s Pillow is the longest-running dance festival in the United States and celebrates its 72nd festival in 2004. Since its inception “the Pillow”, as it is affectionately known, has provided pivotal exposure for many of the world’s great dance companies and dancers.

Ella Baff, the festival’s Executive Director, says she’s delighted to be giving Black Grace their United States debut. “They are quite wonderful, different from any other work I’ve seen, and I hope they have great success here at the Pillow and elsewhere. Major press has taken an interest in Black Grace even before they have arrived. A large photo recently appeared in a coveted spot of The New York Times.”

Black Grace performance repertoire will feature the work of choreographer Neil Ieremia, including his well-known works “Minoi”, “Method” and the witty and vibrant “Human Language”, performed with guest female dancers. Other highlights will be the powerful “Ulutao” - an excerpt from Neil Ieremia’s critically acclaimed full length-work “Surface” and a special preview of Ieremia’s new major work in progress, “Objects”.

“I learnt about Jacob’s Pillow and the great pioneers of American modern dance many years ago while I was at dance school,” Neil Ieremia says. “To this day, I still consider myself a student of dance and am honoured and humbled at the prospect of taking my company and my work there.

“Although I’m in awe of the numerous dance luminaries, the rich history and involvement they have had with Jacob’s Pillow, I hope that they will not only see and remember this small New Zealand company dancing before them but will also feel a nation of people with great pride in who we are, our land, our sea and our sky.

“When I dance I never dance alone. Behind me stand generations of mana, perseverance and love. These are my people. They are my reasons.”

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10.17
ART WORLD UP FOR GRABS

http://www.downstage.co.nz/shows/shows_up_for_grabs.asp

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10.18
OBSERVE IT, CONSERVE IT, OR LOSE IT

Conservation Week 2004,  2 - 8 August
Conservation needs You!  Kia mau ki te k? ukauka e k?ingo nei
(Apply the tools of conservation to that which longs to be sustained forever)


A Global Eye on conservation

Art inspired by conservation and reflectingdifferent ethnicities and culturesis on show in Turnbull House in Wellington during Conservation Week from August 2-8. TheGlobal Eye exhibition features the work of 11 Wellington artists from varying ethnicities who havepresented their thoughts and feelings on conservation and the environment in an alternative form, weaving together art and science. Over the week the public will be asked to vote for their art work of choice. At the end of the exhibition, the artist who has accrued the most votes will be offered a week’s creative residency on Matiu Somes Island.

The exhibition highlights this year’s Conservation Week themeConservation with Communities, celebrating the contribution many individuals and groups make to looking after and restoring our environment.

“We want to celebrate the ethnic diversity of Wellington and through art seek to understand the variety of cultural perspectives on conservation and the environment, DOC community relations programme manager Dairne Poole said. “This exhibition also aims to bring together the art and science sectors of the community, thereby fostering wider accessibility to conservation.”

Leila Adam, a Muslim, conveys the touch of perfection that the bush brings to our “imperfect human lives” by depicting the symmetrical form of the black tree fern through Islamic art.

Yasmine El Orfi has drawn inspiration from the Bedouin and North African art to capture the line, pattern, colour and emotion of Wellington’s weather, hills, bush and coastline.

Kate E.P Lepper’s work, The Grass is always Greener expresses the statement:  “Do conservation and production need to be on opposite sides of the fence? The right balance of trees to pasture means more productivity not less,” she explains.

A weta cast in silver dancing on a dead possum is the scenario created by Kristelle Plimmer in a creation combining her love of “these fascinating creatures” (weta) with her passion for hot metal.

A fascination with collecting seeds from the New Zealand bush and watching them take root in seed trays inspired Mica Still’s contribution to the exhibition.“I have been here for six years and the roots have finally grasped onto the idea that I can grow here in New Zealand,” she says.

Sarak-Vone Sum has painted on a recycled woollen blanket to express how the “fire of destruction on all levels of existence can be fuelled through acts of ignorance and greed. The open weave of this canvas allows light and hope to filter through the smoke.”

Dreamer, by Simin Bazgeer who came to New Zealand four years ago from Iran, highlights how a good environment can bring “peace, relaxation, freedom and enjoyment of life”.

In her work, Dwyllis Maggs portrays the beauty of the open spaces surrounding New Zealanders and what would be lost if this was destroyed.

Protection of the seabed and foreshore is the focus of a contribution by Gail Higgs-West, whose Huguenot/Irish/Scottish ancestry “influences her understanding and helps her appreciate the relationship between humans and physical and ecological environments”.

Colombian artist Natalia K Parra Sierra’s Tres Facetas (Three Facets) explores the relationship between the human body and that of animals through textures and colours. 

Croatian Rada Bulich has used recycled materials to recreate the warm autumn colours from her homeland in her new environment.

 
Also on offer during Conservation Week in Wellington are open days at Matiu/Somes Island and the Catchpool Valley; displays at Wellington library, displays and lunchtime talks at the Wellington Anglican Cathedral, street banners along Oriental Parade featuring the artwork of students, and Te Papa NatureSpace discovery hour – an opportunity for children to learn how to care for a ti kouka / cabbage tree seedling. ENDS

For more information please contact Dairne Poole, Phone 04 472 5821

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10.19
TURNING JAPANESE, I REALLY THINK SO

Hutt Valley Community Arts proudly presents Yokoso! (= kia ora), a  Japanese cultural community event

We have created this event to celebrate the Japanese Community in the Hutt Valley and to enable them to present their cultural richness in an exciting programme.

We honour the sister city of The Hutt City in Japan: Minoh, and are working with the International Relations Co-ordinator at Hutt City Council, Mr. Brian Cross. We are also happy that the Hutt Minoh Friendship House Trust is supporting this community event.

Yokoso! will bring people together who want to learn about the Japanese culture, and aims to create a hands-on and participatory approach. We will have art on display, demonstrations and workshops, so please join us... 


Friday August 20, 5pm - 7pm: Opening party for sponsors, team & press

Saturday August 21, 11am - 6pm: Exhibition / Workshops and demonstrations/ Kids programme       

Sunday August 22, 11am - 5pm: Exhibition / Workshops and demonstrations/ Kids programme

Our event will coincide with the Japanese Festival in Wellington that takes place between August 16 – 21.

Exhibition

Gary Powell, an Asian antiques expert, will put together an impressive range of Japanese artefacts. This will include woodblock prints, fans, furniture and other gems of his and other people’s collections. Three Second Goldfish, the exquisite shop of Luisa Talbot will exhibit some fabulous kimono from her collection. The Hutt Minoh Friendship House will also provide some beautiful pieces to this exhibition.

Workshops

We are very happy to have made contact with so many people who will present their skills and share their passion for the Japanese culture. We will present a busy schedule of demonstrations and workshops. The definite schedule will be published a week prior to the event, but you can expect a range of authentic Japanese customs and crafts. We present  bonsai, ikebana (=flower arranging), kimono dressing, chado (= tea ceremony), calligraphy, origami and netsuke carving. Sue Lytollis from the New Zealand Kendo Federation has kindly helped us to present the finest of martial arts like judo, aikido, kendo & kyudo (= archery). Joe Okada will also bring some of his Japanese language students to teach us to speak some basic Japanese words.

Kids programme

The Hutt Art House have just moved into the same building. HVCA says Yokoso! to our new neighbour and we are very happy to include them in this Japanese community event. Young kids, teens, you are all welcome to visit us and learn about dragons, kites, origami and comics.


For information, ideas for features & interviews call Sacha: 0210-444294 or HVCA 5683488

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10.20
COLOURFUL CREATIVE CAPITAL

To all Colourful Connections members and interested parties: we need your ideas, your contacts and your artwork! In conjunction with Wellington City Council we are planningColourful Capital, a celebration of ethnic art and cultural creativity in Wellington. This exhibition is to be held around Race Relations, March 2005, and this Wednesday's meeting of Colourful Connections will be used as a focus group to determine final themes and parameters for the selection of artworks. So - if you would like to have a say in designing a major visual arts event which affects YOU, come along to Capital E this Wednesday, July 28, at 7.30-9.30pm. Enquiries to Lucy Moore, 388 5910.

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10.21
CALLING ALL MAORI AND PACIFIC PLAYWRIGHTS

Playmarket and Auckland City Council are offering four new and existing Maori and Pacific Island writers the opportunity to create and develop their new plays as part of their upcoming Pasifika Playwrights Development Forum Pasifika 2005 and AK05. They are open to anyone of Maori or Pacific Island descent. The four successful applicants will receive the support of a professional dramaturge (drama tutor) between 4 September 2004 and 5 March 2005. Two of the four will then receive a week-long workshop and public presentation of their draft as part of the Pasifika Playwrights Development Forum at Pasifika 2005, Auckland, 6-12 March. The other two will receive a reading of their draft as part of the Forum.

For further information on how to make submissions contact Dianna Fuemana, Auckland City Council (Dianna.Fuemana@aucklandcity.govt.nz) or Mark Amery, Playmarket (scripts@playmarket.org.nz) or ph. (04) 382 8462. Applications must be in writing to: Mark Amery, Pasifika Playwrights, Playmarket, PO Box 9767, Te Aro, Wellington, and are due before 5 p.m. Friday 3 September.

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10.22
THE INCUBATOR RETURNS

The word on the street, Cuba Street, is that the Incubator at Thistle Hall is the place for new performance-based art in Wellington. Anyone can attend this regular and informal showing of works-in-progress by local performing artists. Kind of like a performance cafe, The Incubator is a forum to explore new ideas and present fresh new work to you - the audience.

Come along to see what contemporary actors, musicians, dancers and writers are doing BEFORE they hit the big theatres! The next one is right around the corner...

1 August 2004 at 6:30pm at Thistle Hall, 293 Cuba Street. Admission by Koha/donation

Contact: Angela Green on 380 0349 or theincubator@paradise.net.nz
 
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10.23
BUSY SUNDAY AHEAD

A four-course meal of concerts on Sunday...

11:30am
Ole La La "Babes in Arms" Classical Music Concert
Capital E, Civic Square
Tickets and Information: 913-3720

2:30pm
Bachoir of Wellington Faure Requiem and Poulenc Gloria
St Mary of the Angels, Boulcott Street
Tickets: 384-3840
Information: 232-9961

3:00pm
Monsieur Satie – Gymnopedist!
The life and works of Erik Satie by Dan Poynton with Kate Mead, Kate Lineham, Roger Livingstone
Wellington Chamber Music Society - Sunday Concerts Series
Ilott Theatre
Tickets: 384 3840
 
Sunday, August 1 at 7:00pm
The Zaoui Benefit Concert
Opera House
Tickets: 384-3840
Information: 021 711 191
Email: mel@barbarian.co.nz

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10.24
YOGA ARTS

The Wellington Arts Centre, based under the Oriental Bay Rotunda, is home to three weekly yoga sessions. There's a Tuesday morning session (10am to 11:30am) with Anna Sandle; a Wednesday morning Kundalini Yoga session (9am to 10:15am) with Tamsyn Hunnewell; and a Thursday evening Hatha session (6pm to 7:30pm) with Sue Fuller. Discounts are offered for any interested local artists, performers, or creative people. Contact Eric on 385-1929 or arts@wcc.govt.nz

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10.25
DRAWING ON LIFE

The Rotunda/Arts Centre is also home to a casual weekly life drawing session, every Monday morning. There's a small fee for attending, and it's bring your own paper and supplies. Contact Heather on 382-9802 to find out more.

For a more guided approach, there's a tutored life drawing session with Garth Satterthwaite on Monday evenings, which usually runs with the school term.  If you are interested in drawing with a live model, guided by Garth, call 232-4444 to learn more.

The current Wellington Arts Centre is under the Fisherman's Table Restaurant, on the street level of the Oriental Bay Rotunda.

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10.26
CONTACT THE NO.8 WIRE

Send comments, questions, requests, etc
to

Eric Vaughn Holowacz
Community Arts Co-ordinator
Wellington City Council / Wellington Arts Centre
P. O. Box 2199
Wellington, New Zealand
04-385-1929 / 027-416-2190
Arts@wcc.govt.nz

Friday, July 16, 2004

The No.8 Wire - Issue 9

Filed on 16 July 2004
An Electronic Alert for 357 of Wellington's Creative People



SOME OPENING REMARKS ABOUT HOUSEKEEPING


If you wish to be removed from this email list, please send a message to arts@wcc.govt.nz

If you know someone who might want to be added, please send a message to arts@wcc.govt.nz

If you have contents, events, opportunities, or comments to contribute to the No. 8 Wire, please send complete details to arts@wcc.govt.nz

The exits are behind you, and toilets are just through that hallway. In case of emergency, scream and confer with your closest neighbour. 

And, in honour of poetry day, and with a tip of the tam o' shanter to this week's Word Festival, this No.8 Wire begins with a quote about the written, crafted word...and ends with a new New Zealand Poem.

Add a poem, or special words, to all your email messages...today, tomorrow, and the day after...


"Poetry is no more a narcotic than a stimulant; it is a universal bittersweet mixture for all possible household emergencies and its action varies accordingly as it is taken in a wineglass or a tablespoon, inhaled, gargled or rubbed on the chest by hard fingers covered with rings." -Robert Graves


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9.00
ORIGINAL ART IS IN THE AIR

At long last, Drive by Art has hit the streets. From this week on, almost 50 new works of art by Wellington painters can be seen flying high over the CBD and main thoroughfares. Part public art and part community art, this project began one year ago by inviting local teachers and students to paint whatever they wanted on vinyl street banners. Artists, illustrators, and creative groups were then invited to participate, and over 50 generously agreed to make an original work for Drive by Art. By August 2004, in time for New Zealand Conservation Week, 30 additional banners -- created by schools and based on local environmental themes -- will line Oriental Parade. Soon, Wellington's urban landscape will feature over 100 original paintings and a bold new art gallery on the street.

A debt of gratitude is owed to Wellington's creative community -- to everyone who said yes to this idea and then helped make their mark on the City. Thanks also to Flagmakers, Resene, and the New Zealand Community Trust, who made it incredibly easy to develop and execute.

Organisers are planning a special get-together, and all Drive by Art participants will be notified with more details. The website (see below) will also be expanded to include profiles on participating artists and contact information for the public. Schools and artists who would like to participate in Drive by Art, need only call 385-1929 or arts@wcc.govt.nz for more information.

See
http://wcc.govt.nz/news/display-item.php?id=1908
http://www.feelinggreat.co.nz

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9.01
A LABORATORY FOR THE ARTS

The Incubator invites all performing artists to become involved in its August 1st show. Choreographers, actors, writers, directors, musicians, word-meisters, dancers, performing artists of all types. If you are keen to be proactive in your career, why not participate? Don't let your skills go to waste, keep those creative juices flowing by using them regularly.

The Incubator is a place for you to show your work to an appreciative audience in an informal setting. It does not have to be incredibly polished, or a finished product. It can even be an idea you've been thinking about for ages, but never had the opportunity to try. It's your chance to try out new material on a keen audience. Or even a chance to provide a 'taster' of your upcoming show.

The Incubator operates at Thistle hall exhibition space on Cuba Street, a 40+ seat venue with polished wooden floors that is suitable for dance works. Dressing room/backstage space is available. The space will be available 2 1/2 hours before the show starts for rehearsal. We also have contacts with incredibly cheap rehearsal space.

Previous participants in The Incubator include STRIKE, NZ School of Dance, the Word Collective and When Sun and Moon Collide. We have had items ranging from new choreography, stand-up, improv, new dramatic writing, musicals, devised work, performance poetry, circus acts and original compositions.

The next Incubator is Sunday August 1, 6.30pm. Audience entry is via koha. We have some spaces left for performance. If you are interested, feel free to call Angela on 3800349 or email theincubator@paradise.net.nz

Angela Green
The Incubator
anguiela@paradise.net.nz
021 149 3355

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9.02
A CONCERT WITH A CONSCIENCE

ARTISTS GATHER TO CELEBRATE HUMAN RIGHTS: THE ZAOUI CONCERT, SUNDAY AUGUST 1ST, THE OPERA HOUSE, WELLINGTON

A benefit concert for the family of Ahmed Zaoui will be held in Wellington, Sunday 1st August at the Opera House. Leading musicians and performers have offered their services free to make The Zaoui Concert a reality. Sir Paul Reeves will address this unique event.

The concert is hosted by Wellington Artists' Charitable Trust (WACT), and supported by Amnesty International, the Human Rights Foundation and Radio Active.

Leading New Zealand musicians and comedians are contributing to this event. They include Goldenhorse, Rhombus, The Beatgirls, Jeff Henderson with Richard Nunns and Sally Rodwell, Alphabet Head and the Accelerants. Comedians Taika Cohen, Jo Randerson and Gentiane Lupi will also perform, and Sir Paul Reeves and Ahmed Zaoui's lawyer, Deborah Manning, will give brief addresses. The concert will be hosted by well-known actors Jeremy Randerson and Adam Gardiner.

The concert takes place on the one-year anniversary of the Refugee Status Appeals Authority decision that declared elected Algerian MP, Ahmed Zaoui, to be a genuine refugee. "The Zaoui family are currently in hiding in Asia," says event organiser Melanie Hamilton. "That's mainly because Mr Zaoui, the family breadwinner, has been held without charge in a New Zealand prison for some nineteen months now, with no end in sight to his detention. We wanted to give the people of Wellington a chance to help the Zaoui family in a tangible way, as a gesture of compensation for the suffering they have faced due to the actions of the New Zealand government."

"The concert is also one way that people can join together and celebrate human rights while enjoying a wide-range of New Zealand music. New Zealand artists want to speak up and comment on human rights in New Zealand; this concert is one way of making that happen, and it is significant that it occurs on the anniversary of the RSAA decision," says Hamilton.

"The Zaoui case has shown us how readily some of our basic human rights can be brushed aside, " says Hamilton, " in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. In that sense, The Zaoui Concert provides an occasion for us to stand up and support everyone's right to fair and compassionate treatment before the law."

The Zaoui Concert will be a unique event. It provides an opportunity for people to join together and celebrate human rights, and the event will showcase some of New Zealand's leading musicians and comedians. Benefit concerts are now an uncommon event, and it is significant that so many of New Zealand's leading performers are willing to lend their time for free and take a stand on this issue.

The Zaoui Concert
The Opera House, Wellington
Sunday August 1st, 7pm.
Tickets: $25 / $12.50 from Ticketek, ph 04 384 3840.
Supported by Amnesty International, Radio Active and the Human Rights Foundation.

For further information, interviews and images, please contact Melanie Hamilton. PH: 021 711 191
Email: mel@barbarian.co.nz

____________________________________________________________________


9.03
FRIDAY NIGHT AT PHOTOSPACE

Just a quick reminder of the opening tonight, 5pm-7pm - Raoul Island as seen by Julia Brooke-White and Deborah Anne Hall.

Please go to www.photospace.co.nz/expo084.htm for exhibition details and artists' statements.

Photospace studio/gallery
1st floor, 37 Courtenay Place
Gallery hours: 10-4.30 Monday-Friday
11-3 Saturdays, closed public holidays
www.photospace.co.nz

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9.04
FOR FURTHER ENJOYMENT

Hullbreach
By Miranda Parkes
July 21-August 6
Opening Celebration July 20 6pm
Artist's talk July 21 6pm
Enjoy presents a painting show, Hullbreach by Christchurch artist Miranda Parkes. The work references painting's history, subverting some of its conventions. An old plastic bag stands in for the painted surface in one work, others traverse their expected boundary and droop onto the floor. The paintings look like formalist abstractions that have collapsed or been interrupted.

Parkes has an irreverent attitude towards her paintings, for as many are destroyed as are created. Enjoy presents some survivors.

Enjoy Public Art Gallery
Level one, 174 Cuba St
Ph 04 384 0174
www.enjoy.org.nz

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9.05
THE MAGIC LANTERNS IN OUR MIDST

The cinematic arts are everywhere in Wellington these days -- thanks to the ambitious programming of the New Zealand Film Festival. And moveigoers couldn't be happier.

Film, at its essence, is story-telling: part of that magical tradition that begins ten thousand years ago with the shaman explaining the markings on a cave wall. It is related to the telling of culture, as attempted through Greek goat-songs, Mystery plays, Vaudeville song and dance, Charlie Chaplin silent movies, Disney animation, never-ending soap operas, popular BBC shows, Shortland Street, and even the mighty King Kong.

With cinema, the telling can be bold, subtle, powerful, disturbing, educational, funny, sad, historical, or as strangely interesting as a portable toilet that sounds like a donkey. You'll find most of these qualities somewhere within the Wellington/New Zealand Film Festival. And you'll find all the details at 

www.enzedff.co.nz

As for the braying port-a-loo, get thee to the City Gallery...before the Prospect Exhibition comes to a close, and they start exporting the donkey in a dunny to the Doge's Palace…or check out

http://www.telecomprospect2004.org.nz/artist/etal.asp

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9.06
AND ON A RELATED NOTE

Homegrown is the dynamic Kiwi short film programme of the New Zealand International Film Festival 2004.
Always a stand-out feature, the three diverse programmes which comprise of Homegrown - film, video and documentary offer a dynamic platform for up-and-coming and established filmmakers to present their work at the highest level of film festival exhibition in this country.

This year's programme features an eclectic mix of films: internationally acclaimed 35mm works that have travelled to Cannes and Sundance, cross-cultural flavours, dance, animation and documentary. Highlights include: David Rittey's Closer, Cannes Film Festival 2004 nominee; Generation, a masterpiece of animation based on a short poem and Figures of Speech, richly textured dance piece from prolific Dunedin based dance filmmaker, Daniel Belton. See what's coming up in Wellington at

http://www.nzff.telecom.co.nz/filmsynopsis.asp?FilmID=1824&Archive=0&RegionID=1&EventID=8

http://www.nzff.telecom.co.nz/filmsynopsis.asp?FilmID=1825&Archive=0&RegionID=1&EventID=8

http://www.nzff.telecom.co.nz/filmsynopsis.asp?FilmID=1826&Archive=0&RegionID=1&EventID=8

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9.07
BEST LITTLE EXHIBITION SPACE IN WELLINGTON

Michael Hirschfeld Gallery
City Gallery Wellington, Civic Square

The Michael Hirschfeld Gallery is City Gallery Wellington's space dedicated to showing the work of Wellington-based artists and designers. There's such an exciting range of art and design happening in Wellington and it's great to have a public gallery where it can be showcased. Exhibitions in the Michael Hirschfeld Gallery last for one month so there is always something new to be seen. 

You can find out more about Wellington artists and designers who have featured in the Michael Hirschfeld Gallery by checking out the Hirschfeld Gallery Archive on the City Gallery website: http://www.city-gallery.org.nz/mainsite/HirschfeldGalleryArchive.html. This resource contains articles, interviews and images.

To find out more about what’s on at the Michael Hirschfeld Gallery, or to enquire about making a proposal contact:

Sarah Farrar
Hirschfeld Gallery Curator
hirschfeldgallery@wcc.govt.nz

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9.08
AND ON A RELATED NOTE

The Michael Hirschfeld Gallery at City Gallery Wellington is delighted to present
Hat Trick!
Victoria Birkinshaw, Anne Noble and Andy Morley-Hall
10 July - 8 August 2004
Artists' talk
Free public talk: 5:30pm, Wednesday 21 July
City Gallery Wellington
Civic Square

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9.09
SHOW ME THE MONEY

Repeated from the last issue, here are the links to Wellington City Council's latest (arts) grant awards. A full list of Creative Communities grant awards is linked at the bottom of this webpage.

http://www.wcc.govt.nz/news/display-item.php?id=1892

And for a summary of the recent round of Arts & Culture Grants, see

http://www.wellington.govt.nz/news/display-item.php?id=1897

What's that, you say? You want to learn more about how to obtain funding to support your creative project, arts event, or professional development. Have a look here first, then contact the grants office listed there, or ring Eric on 385-1929

http://www.wcc.govt.nz/services/grants/index.html

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9.10
LAST WORD FROM THE WORD FESTIVAL

Saturday, July 17 will bring the end of Wellington's Word Festival (with the Wordform Art Exhibition remaining in Thistle hall through July 20). Run, don’t' walk, to the Cuba Street mainstay of new art, performance, and letters arranged in meaningful ways. Plan your arrival for the following times: 

10AM Word Market: A swap meet for ideas, where local self published poets and ‘Zine makers can buy sell or swap their wares. This is a chance to network and meet like minded artists. There will be open mike opportunities throughout the Word market. Stall holders welcome

7PM Word Feast: A celebratory last night party with the best of the fest performers, and guest bands. A chance to let off some steam, and a second chance to see the artists who rocked the festival.

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9.11
CITY, SEA, LIVING TREASURES

Wellington's Museum of City and Sea continues its historical exhibition of 'Living Treasures', all about people who have contributed to our sense of culture and our sense of place. Dance pioneer Deirdre Tarrant is include, and will be giving a talk next week. You are invited...

Wednesday 21 July 1.05pm
A talk by Deirdre Tarrant, choreographer, founder Footnote Dance and participant in Living Treasure. Introduced by Sue Paterson, General Manager, Royal New Zealand Ballet.

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9.12
INSIDERS GUIDE TO SCRIPT-WRITING

Friday 23 July
1 - 2pm, Stout Centre for New Zealand Studies, 12 Waiteata Road

2003 IIML Scriptwriting MA graduate Peter Cox is the brains behind The Insiders Guide to Happiness, currently screening on Thursday nights on TV2 and recently named by Listener critic Diana Wichtel as one of the three 'must watch' series on television, along with The Sopranos and State of Play. He joins co-writer Paula Boock and Gibson Group producer Donna Malane to discuss the ins and outs of getting this quirky series on screen.

All Writers on Fridays sessions are open to the public and free of charge. No booking or rsvp required.

Hosted by: IIML and The Stout Research Centre.
modernlettersnews-request@vuw.ac.nz

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9.13
CREATIVE COLLECTIVE

WACT (Wellington Artists' Charitable Trust) WACT is a collection of people that came together to support performing artists in Wellington. The most important thing was to create a space where artists could work alongside each other, collaborate and rehearse their work. The WACT studio has been operating for 18 months now and provides affordable office spaces for independent companies, and a rehearsal and presentation space for performing artists. The rehearsal room is the slightly bigger than BATS' stage. Floor plans are available. The founding trustees of WACT are all artists with a strong commitment to supporting independent, bold and risk-taking work. We hire out the rehearsal room cheaply ($5 + gst per hour) and offer it at the same rate for performances, showings, forums etc. We provide room for as many low-cost office spaces as we can, while maintaining a free and open-plan workspace. Office spaces are currently full. Over the past year WACT has grown and evolved, and we tried to make this transition as organic as possible. Now there are more people working out of WACT than the original Trustees, and WACT has become an informal place for many artists to meet. This is helped by its central location (opp. Te Papa). The WACT Trustees are: Jo Randerson, Melanie Hamilton, Adam Gardiner, Taika Cohen, Andrew Foster and Loren Horsley. The Trust acknowledges founding Trustee, Robrecht Ghesquière. Our contact details are: WACT: Level 1, 44 Cable St, Wgtn. PH: 04 385 0192 FAX 04 385 0198. Please call if you would like to view and/or book the rehearsal room.

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9.14
ADVANCING THE ART OF PANTOMIME

Robert Bennett, the founder of New Zealand-based Mime International, offers regular workshops in mime. These are geared for anyone interested in having some fun and improving their life, stage and creative skills. Bennett has already started with hourly sessions at Ghuznee Health Associates. The cost minimal (under $10), and it's open to all. Ring Rupert at Ghuznee Health - 801 6610 - to find out when the next session is to be held.

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9.15
AFFORDABLE ART ON THE HORIZON

New Zealand's first Affordable Art Show will take place in Wellington from August 13th to 15th, and Paul Forest will be painting on-site, as 'Artist in Residence'. Work by over 225 artists, from around the country, will also be on view and for sale. 

Forest, a Newtown-based painter, has asked the No. 8 Wire to include a link to his newly-engineered website
 www.paulforrest.co.nz
And we are happy to oblige. The artist can be contacted at
The Studio
146 Riddiford Street
Newtown
Ph: (04) 9343409
Mobile: 025 477254
Email: paul@paulforrest.co.nz

Check out the latest news on the New Zealand Affordable Art Show at
http://www.affordableart.co.nz/

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9.16
SOUNDS GOOD

Sounz: The Centre for New Zealand Music, based here in Wellington, has begun a new email newsletter with all sorts of links and information about Kiwi composers, recordings, music education, and publishing. 

First, pay a visit to the organisation's website
www.sounz.org.nz

Then call on the team at SOUNZ, Scilla, Emma and Lachlan, and get behind their efforts.

SOUNZ, Centre for NZ Music
PO Box 10042
Wellington, NZ
Phone: (+64 4) 801 8602
Fax:   (+64 4) 801 8604
Email: info@sounz.org.nz

Created in New Zealand, Heard Around the World!
Toi Te Puoru - tipua i Aotearoa, rangona e te ao!
PROMOTING THE MUSIC OF NEW ZEALAND¹S COMPOSERS

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9.17
THE NO.8 WIRE: PAST AND PRESENT

Archives of the No. 8 Wire are on-line at
www.arts.blogspot.com

Artists, organisations, and creative people can obtain their own free Weblog by going to
www.blogger.com

then following the easy peasy instructions. A 'blog' is a great way to quickly post articles, copy-and-paste text, email messages, artist statements, a daily or weekly journal, poems, essays, and other written things. Visit the No. 8 Wire archives, to get an idea…then visit blogger.com to begin posting your ideas on the Web.

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9.18
PLAYING NEW ZEALAND

Be in the audience next weekend, when the play 'Skin Tight' returns to Wellington and Downstage Theatre. There's information about the revived production of Gary Henderson's physical, lyrical, passionate play at the below website. But all you really need to know, besides the haunting song of the magpie, is...be there.

http://www.downstage.co.nz/shows/shows_skin_tight.asp

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9.19
POEM


A Man Killed Quietly by a Cow, Orongorongo Station


Sleeping on the deadened corn,
That grows beside his hard, ploughed field,
A man awoke to find a cow
Walking there, within the grass, 
And then upon his noiseless chest.

There it stood, one passing cow
Upon the torso of the farm,
And softly killed him in the grass. 
Upon the firm, inhuman soil
It sunk the man in quiet clay.
 
A hoof broke through the ankle bone
And crackled as it ploughed the ribs.
This cow breathed down across his face
And brought its udder to the chest
Then walked  atop the breaking bones.

The man, alive but muted now,
looked up and raised a splintered wrist
To shake away the faithless cow.
The hooves, and teats, and bovine mass
Just lumbered on, and killed this man.

And when the dying there was done,
The beast and farmer stayed awhile.
Until the cow got up to eat
Tall grasses that are growing wild
Beside a rich and human field.


_____________________________________________________________


9.20
CONTACT


Send comments, questions, requests, etc
to


Eric Vaughn Holowacz
Community Arts Co-ordinator
Wellington City Council / Wellington Arts Centre
P. O. Box 2199
Wellington, New Zealand
04-385-1929 / 027-416-2190
Arts@wcc.govt.nz

Monday, July 12, 2004

The No.8 Wire - Issue 8

Filed on 9 July 2004
An Electronic Alert for Wellington's Creative People

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8.00
ITCH

The No. 8 Wire is now already taking over my life, with a new edition emerging about once a week. That's a good sign that there is an abundance of opportunity, cultural interaction, experimentation, and creative forces swirling around us in Wellington. I'll try to keep pace, so keep on incubating and creating and participating. Also, pass the Wire on to colleagues and friends who might be interested: I'm adding a few dozen new people each week. And, the No. 8 Wire always welcomes comments, observations, and suggestions.

Likewise, please let me know if you do not wish to receive these alerts, or if you are getting more than one each time, and I'll correct the error.

This edition leads with a report from Allan Prangnell on the Council's plan for a new Arts Centre. Significant funding has been approved, and things are likely to gain momentum as soon as the location and building have been firmed up. Your participation, knowledge, and consultation will be key over the next few months.

With Bomb the Space on at Happy, and the Word Festival about to kick in, Film Festivals on the horizon, and the Jazz Festival plotting its course for October, Wellington is in full swing. I'm grateful to be a part of it, and for the opportunity to work with you.

Many, many thanks,
Eric

Incubating the arts. Fanning the creative spark. Connecting people and ideas. Building cultural opportunities. Expressing who we are. For Wellington.

SCRATCH

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8.01
ARTS CENTRE UPDATE

From Allan Prangnell, Senior Policy Advisor for Wellington City Council


Wellington City Council has given the green-light to the proposal to establish an Arts Centre in Wellington city.

At this stage, the plan is to open the new Centre around May next year. The Arts Centre will have:

· Studio and workshop space for arts practitioners. These will be rented to artists on a variety of time-bound leases
· A ‘house gallery’ for the artists
· Communal wet and dry workshop space
· A Dark room
· A Kiln
· A commercial gallery
· A performance bar/café
· ‘Hot desk’ space for short-term arts projects
· Creative spaces for community arts groups
· Sound-proofed rooms for bands and other musicians
· An information hub for the Wellington Arts scene
· Professional arts organisations as tenants

The Centre will also run seminars and workshops for the arts sector, providing some training in issues like arts marketing and legal advice (for example copyright procedures).

The Council’s Community Arts Centre, currently situated at the Band Rotunda on Oriental Parade, will become part of the new Arts Centre.

The Council has set aside about $1.2 million in funding to re-fit a building for the Arts Centre, and about $500,000 per year to contribute to the costs of running the Centre. The users of the new Centre will be expected to contribute to the operating costs of the Centre.

The first step for Council will be negotiating lease arrangements on a building to house the Centre. Council’s preferred locations are in the inner city. At this stage, the location options will need to remain confidential, until a lease agreement is secured.

There will further consultation with the arts community as the new Arts Centre is implemented. We anticipate that further consultation will begin in August/September this year, once a location has been secured.

Lastly – what will the new Centre be called? We’ve used an operating title of the ArtsCubator for the last year. We think the arts community should give the new Centre its name, as it’s you who will own it. So for now, we’re going to run with the relatively bland title of the ‘Wellington Arts Centre’, until you come up with your own name!

Eric and I will endeavour to give you all regular updates as we progress with the implementation. If you have any queries, you can still contact me at the email address I’ve been running for a few months – artscubator@wcc.govt.nz

Regards

Allan Prangnell
Senior Policy Advisor
Wellington City Council


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8.02
Get your skates on!
Ice as art? Wait and see. Part of the historic Great Hall in the Old Museum Building at the University’s Wellington campus is about to be transformed into an ice rink as part of a major art exhibition.

The transformation will happen with installation of Fine Arts lecturer Maddie Leach’s work The Ice Rink and The Lilac Ship.

This sculptural installation comprises an 18-metre long, fully-functioning ice rink, accompanied by a video projection of a cruise ship drifting into Wellington harbour.

Ms Leach’s work reflects on the different ways communities get together to socialise and play. Audiences are invited to interact with this work by donning a pair of the displayed skates and skating upon the rink, transforming the exhibition space into an active space for audience participation.

The Ice Rink and The Lilac Ship is part of a major art show, Telecom Prospect 2004: New Art New Zealand. The exhibition will run from 11 July – 8 August. It will be open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm. Admission is free.

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8.03
Date Palm Film Festival

The Date Palm Film Festival will be held in September in Wellington, Auckland & Christchurch. The programme has grown out of the Middle Eastern Film Festival, which debuted in Wellington in 2003 at the Paramount Theatre. The organisers felt the need to change the name to help create a positive vibrant feeling to the Middle East.
The film selection committee comprises of Steve Lahood, Bob Maysmor and Jeremy Rose, all with passion and commitment to film and the Middle East. Selection of films for the September festival is near completion. Acquiring films has been a lengthy and difficult process, due in part to a lack of Middle Eastern Embassies in New Zealand.
Sponsors are recognising the opportunities that exist to align themselves with this festival, and in particular we are grateful for the support we have received to date from Wellington Institute of Technology, Innovative Travel, Montana Wines, Sky City Trust, Creative Communities of Auckland City and Christchurch City. As well many of the film-going public has shown great interest in the festival to date.

For further information please contact:
Nadra Zarifeh
Festival Director
Date Palm Film Festival
PO Box 11-494
Wellington
Tel 025 285 1194
www.meff.org.nz


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8.04
Anybody know what this means?

Govt launches new cultural diplomacy programme: Prime Minister and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Helen Clark today announced a $2.35 million per annum Cultural Diplomacy International Programme to promote New Zealand and New Zealand's culture overseas.

Prime Minister and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Helen Clark today announced a $2.35 million per annum Cultural Diplomacy International Programme to promote New Zealand and New Zealand's culture overseas.
Helen Clark said the programme's aim is to contribute to a New Zealand cultural presence in key regions overseas, in order to promote economic, trade, tourism, diplomatic, and cultural interests.
"Cultural diplomacy is a powerful way for New Zealand to assert itself to the world as a unique and creative nation.
"We are a culturally diverse and contemporary nation, with a strong and unique cultural heritage. We will promote this more actively in the way we broaden and deepen New Zealand's ties with countries that are important to our own interests.
"We envisage the programme utilising organisations like, for example, the NZ Symphony Orchestra, the Royal NZ Ballet, or Black Grace, or individuals like Dame Malvina Major, in a way which promotes New Zealand's cultural heritage while leveraging off their profile to enhance New Zealand trade and tourism.
"Economic and cultural successes are mutually important to New Zealand - and they can go hand in hand. The experiences of films such as Lord of the Rings and Whale Rider, have shown that cultural projects can have major spill-over benefits into the wider New Zealand economy.
"This Programme will support the growth of creative industries through overseas promotion and through long term country-to-country links, and will support and lift the profile of other trade initiatives offshore," Helen Clark said.
The Ministry for Culture and Heritage is the lead agency for the programme, which was developed through the Grown and Innovation Framework. It is working closely with government agencies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise and Tourism NZ, which have a major external focus. Cultural organisations and agencies will also be closely involved.

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8.05
Wellington City Council Grants Summary

Summary of projects recently awarded funding through the Council's Creative Communities, and details on how you can apply for the September grant round
http://www.wcc.govt.nz/news/display-item.php?id=1892
A full list of Creative Communities grant awards is linked at the bottom of that webpage.
And for a summary of the recent round of Arts & Culture Grants, see
http://www.wellington.govt.nz/news/display-item.php?id=1897
For more information, forms, and deadlines for the Council's grants schemes, go to
http://www.wcc.govt.nz/services/grants/index.html

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8.06
Word Festival Programme

Tuesday 13 – Saturday 17 July
Thistle Hall Community Centre, Cnr Arthur and Cuba Streets, Wellington
The kaupapa of the festival is open and accessible and every event is entry by koha.
TUESDAY 13 JULY
6PM Festival Opening and Wordform Exhibition
A gallery style opening with DJ Blackneck Duck. The exhibition interprets the idea of using word and narrative devices in visual art, and is curated by Chris Lundquist of the Babel Gallery.
WEDNESDAY 14 JULY
10AM Writers’ Workshop
Biddy Grant, through her Standing Ovation initiative holds a writers workshop. Guest speakers offer information about all forms of professionalism in the industry. Participants will be able to meet with publishing houses and learn the inside story on getting their work out to a wider audience.
7PM Fireside Korero
Offering a warm friendly environment for first timers and seasoned poets and storytellers. People can tell their stories in whatever form they like; poetry, song, whai korero. Bring a cushion.
THURSDAY 15 JULY
10AM Word Performance Workshop
A voice workshop helping poets and storytellers to find their voice and communicate their stories to an audience. They will be coached on natural and microphone projection techniques. A rare opportunity to have to have top class training by top class teachers and practitioners Nina Nawalowalo and Susanna Lei’ataua.
7PM Art Politik II
An open forum arts discussion. Local and national political representatives, and arts industry insiders give a ‘health check’ on the artist in Aotearoa/New Zealand. This is a hosted panel event, followed by music and informal sharing of ideas/ideals.
We invite the public to e-mail wordfestival@hotmail.com with any questions they would like to see put to the forum.
FRIDAY 16 JULY
8PM Howltearoa
To coincide with National Poetry Day Wellington’s finest beat brigands present an eclectic take on the spoken word tradition. Performers include: Ciara Mulholland, chanteuse for Shakespeare’s Bitch, Shane Holland, producer of Auckland’s Freaky Meat poetry nights, a preview of Theatre Militia’s Word Virus, and Craig Ireson the original SK8Board Poet.
SATURDAY 17TH JULY
10AM Word Market.
A swap meet for ideas, where local self published poets and ‘Zine makers can buy sell or swap their wares. This is a chance to network and meet like minded artists. There will be open mike opportunities throughout the Word market. Stall holders welcome
7PM Word Feast A celebratory last night party with the best of the fest performers, and guest bands. A chance to let off some steam, and a second chance to see the artists who rocked the festival.
Wordform Art Exhibition runs in Thistle Hall until Tuesday 20th July 2004.

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8.07
COMING TO THE GRYPHON THEATRE
22 Ghuznee Street, Wellington.


Wellington Improvisation Troupe
Presents BATTLE OF WITS
7pm Wed 7 to Sat 10, July 2004 and
GORILLA at 9pm Fri 9 and Sat 10 July.
bookings wit-bookings@wit.org.nz
and also Ticketek 384 3840

Ayden Jacobs presents
THE COMPLETE NUTTA
8pm, Friday 16-Sat 17 July 2004
Bookings 021 250 6739 and
door sales.

Wellington District Theatre Federation
presents THE FESTIVAL OF COMMUNITY THEATRE
Each night different one act plays
8pm Thurs 29 - Sat 31 July, 2004.
Door sales only.

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8.08
Photospace is the Place

You are invited to the opening of Julia Brooke-White's photographic exhibition Raoul Rough, and Deborah Anne Hall's installation Low Flat 08: a grid search, on Friday 16th July, at the usual time - 5pm-7pm.
Both exhibitions run until 9th August. Please go to www.photospace.co.nz/expo084.htm for details and artists' statements.
Also, John Williams' and Andy Morley Hall's exhibitions are running now until 3pm, Tuesday 13th July. If you haven't been up to see these, please try to make it. They're both pretty hot shows. You may also have seen John's exhibition recently at the MFC, and Andy is in a group show at the Hirshfeld Gallery, beginning this month, with Victoria Birkinshaw and Anne Noble.

James Gilberd
Photospace studio/gallery
1st floor, 37 Courtenay Place
Wellington, New Zealand
(postal address: as above)
ph/fax: 64-4-382 9502
cell: 027 444 3899
Gallery hours: 10-4.30 Monday-Friday
11-3 Saturdays, closed public holidays
www.photospace.co.nz

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8.09
ROAR! Gallery has announced Urban Icons

Urban-inspired imagery and culture are the driving force behind an upcoming exhibition at ROAR! Gallery. Artists are invited to submit a proposal and work samples before the 25 August deadline. Items in any visual medium will be considered, but the catch is size: works must be no larger than 35cm x 35cm. Urban Icons will run from 9 to 19 September, and a complete prospectus and submission form can be obtained by calling 385-7602 or firing an email to roargallery@paradise.net.nz

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8.10
School is in at Inverlochy

Inverlochy Art School has just published its Term 3 course programme, which includes a wealth of instruction in painting, sculpture, jewellery-making, photography, and print-making. Check out the website at www.inverlochy.org.nz or call to request the detailed brochure on 939-2177. Inverlochy Art School is located between Willis Street and The Terrace, off Abel Smith Street. Most Term 3 courses begin at the end of July.

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8.11
Wellington poets put their best feet forward

Five poets whose work also appears in the Best New Zealand Poems 2003 anthology will present both their own work and favourite poems by other writers for Montana National Poetry Day in Wellington on Friday 16 July. Kate Camp, Gregory O'Brien, Geoff Cochrane, Jenny Bornholdt and Chris Price will read at St Andrews on the Terrace at 12 noon, in an event hosted by the New Zealand Book Council. In fact poetry is breaking out all over New Zealand next week: to find out about activities in your region, visit http://www.booksellers.co.nz/eventf.htm

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8.12
Turbine: call for submissions

Turbine, the online literary journal published annually by the International Institute of Modern Letters at Victoria University, is calling for submissions for its 2004 issue. Poetry, (shorter) fiction, creative non-fiction and images with a literary bent will all be considered. For submission guidelines see http://www.vuw.ac.nz/turbine/

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8.13
Radio New Zealand call for new writing

Radio New Zealand has also embarked on a hunt throughout the country for new work to include in their Open Story Season, in which they hope to reflect 'the creativity, imagination, and social and cultural diversity in New Zealand today'. They want stories, poems, plays or comedy, and contributors need not have written for radio before. Full guidelines can be found at
http://www.radionz.co.nz/index.php?action=show§ion=specials&specials_id=59

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COMING SOON:

The Art-o-mat Project
Details on Artefacts: Wellington Artist Profile Project
Tips on using the free Google News Alert
Drive by Art hits the street!

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Send comments, questions, requests, etc
to

Eric Vaughn Holowacz
Community Arts Co-ordinator
Wellington City Council / Wellington Arts Centre
P. O. Box 2199
Wellington, New Zealand
04-385-1929 / 027-416-2190
Arts@wcc.govt.nz