The No.8 Wire - Issue 34

Gondwanaland Ministry of Culture
Artists' Information Bureau

************************************************************************
An Electronic Alert for 904 of Wellington's Creative People
Tail-end Octo-numerical Interview: MAIRE SMITH


AT THE END OF THE DAY



34.00
COURSE OF ACTION

The following special 4-week courses have just been added to the offerings at the new arts centre. Course fee is $65 for 4-week term. For information or enrolment, contact art instructor Stephanie Woodman at stefwoodman@xtra.co.nz

LEARN TO DRAW: Tuesdays from 10 to 11.30am from 7 June
A course that has a reputation for getting results! Drawing is the foundation for all art forms as it trains you to see. This popular & comprehensive course builds confidence & skills an know how to get you drawing. For the complete beginner wishing to explore their artistic side!

MINI-EXPRESSIONISTS: Tuesdays from 1 to 1.45pm from 7 June 
This course enables smaller children, aged under 5 years, to explore their creativity using various materials. We work on fine-motor development with a big focus on fun!

BEGINNERS’ WATERCOLOUR: Wednesdays from 6 to 7.30pm from 8 June 
Popular and established step by step course is designed to teach you basic to advanced techniques, layering, washes, colour theory, painting styles & mixed media. Very informative and hands-on course to give you know how. Designed for the beginner.

OPEN STUDIO WORKSHOP: Wednesdays from 7.45 to 9.15pm from 8 June or Friday from 1 to 2.30pm from 10 June 
Designed for creative people who have done art courses or who have worked on their own projects. This course is for those who have ideas but lack space, time and sometimes motivation. Open Studio is a chance to bring along concepts or have projects set, to work at your own pace in a supportive and creative environment. Experienced tutor will be on hand to assist with ideas, motivation, suggestions and techniques.

EXPLORE PAINTING & DRAWING: Thursday from 10 to 11.30am from 9 June
Learn two skills at once, informative, non-threatening skill based course designed to give you knowledge and confidence. This is an excellent course for beginners.

ACRYLICS & THE USE OF MEDIUMS: Thursday from 1 to 2.30pm from 9 June 
Look at how to use varying mediums that are added to acrylic to explore different looks and effects. How to create glazes and impasto effects with use of colour and texture. *materials required - tutor will advise

CREATIVE ABSTRACTS: Thursday from 6 to 7.30pm from 9 June
This course explores the many techniques and ideas that are combined to create visual abstract art. We’ll look at techniques and processes involved. A great course to get you into the “thinking process” of creating art that is unique.
 ___________________________________________________________________

34.01
GOOD BILL

BILL DIREEN in concert
Saturday 28th May
7.30pm-9.30pm
Katipo Cafe (76 Willis St)
$10

After spending the past 8 years in Paris, the songwriter from legendary Flying Nun act the Builders returns to Wellington for 1 night only.
Bill will play 2 sets and read some poetry. The show in Auckland last week was packed out and apparently many requests from the crowd were performed.

See you there!



34.02
YOUNG, HUNGRY, TALENTED

Young and Hungry is back for 2005 and raring to go, presenting a trilogy of fresh New Zealand plays. 2005 is Young and Hungry’s 11th year running and after developing a strong reputation for fresh and fabulous
work- 2005 is no exception! We are proud to be bringing fresh new voices to the BATS stage with plays written by Stephen Bain, Lauren Jackson and Whiti Hereaka.

Over 50 young Wellingtonian’s have thrown school, university and work aside to give the Young and Hungry challenge a go, and were enthralled to have such an enthusiastic team. Young actors, designers and technicians get to stretch their creative legs under the guidance of professional directors, writers and mentors, including Jen Lal, Nic McGowan, Zoe Fox, Brianne Kerr and Tracey Monastra.

‘With 54 participants, 5 mentors, 3 directors, 3 writers and 1 animator the 2005 Festival is shaping up to be the greatest Young and Hungry ever. The line up for this year includes a completely animated character, German speaking teenagers and a mafia style shoot out.’ says Young and Hungry Producer Angela Meyer.

We would love to hear from you if you’re interested in Young and Hungry- Please feel free to call us with any questions or queries.

Sincerely,
Darragh Martin
Young and Hungry Publicity Team.

Contact:
Publicity Mentor- Brianne Kerr
youngandhungry2005@yahoo.co.nz or
briannekerrpublicity@yahoo.co.nz
Ph: 021 1655 784 or 04 380 1071

Producer- Angela Meyer
youngandhungry@xtra.co.nz

Young and Hungry 2005
17th June - 2nd July
BATS Theatre
1 Kent Tce, Wellington
Bookings: 04 802 4175
www.bats.co.nz



34.03
COMPLETELY MAD

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged). All 37 Plays in 97 Minutes at Te Papa’s Soundings Theatre from 8 to 19 June

Get set for a roller coaster ride of comedy, hold on to your seats and prepare to be taken on a frenzied romp through all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays in 97 minutes.  Three madcap men in tights weave their way through all of Shakespeare's comedies, histories and tragedies.  Hamlet is performed forwards, backwards and sideways.  Titus Andronicus serves tasty treats and Othello does the rap.  The show stars Oliver Driver, Jeremy Elwood and Keith Adams.  Originally written and performed by the legendary RSC (Reduced Shakespeare Company) in California, this swashbuckling bard buster as been performed to sell out crowds in New York, UK, Asia and Australia. Receiving rave reviews wherever it goes, it is currently entering its tenth hilarious year and is now London's longest running West End Comedy Hit. No performance is the same and audiences return again and again. Seats begin at $30, and will pay back in rib-splitting dividends. Book tickets now through Ticketek: 384-3840 or www.ticketek.co.nz And get thee to Te Papa’s Soundings Theatre.



34.04
TELL ME MORE

Telling Tales – Wellington’s 20th century at the Museum of Wellington City & Sea

The 20th century saw the rise of indigenous rights, mass travel and global communications while modernism changed architecture, design and the arts. In 100 stories we show Wellington’s interaction with the 20th century’s major developments and events.
Telling Tales Live

Saturday 28 May
10am Gala Opening
Strike start off the celebrations with their high energy percussion in motion. Carmen flies in from Sydney to officially open Telling Tales.

All day
Display of cars by Wellington Vintage Car Club, Queens Wharf

12.30pm Gala Opening Concert
12.30pm Ngati Poneke Young Maori Club – kapa haka at its best
1.15pm Tarrant Dance Theatre – dance through the century
1.45pm Bill Lake – a hot mix of country & r’n’b
2.30pm Footnote Dance – New Zealand’s premiere professional
contemporary dance company
3pm twinset – jazz out of the lounge

Sunday 29 May
10.30am Walk of the century – walk on the south side
Trace the emergence of Wellington’s cafe culture, discover some of the city’s old swinging top spots and learn more about some of the city’s most treasured older buildings. With Walk Wellington meet at the entrance to the Museum (Phone 472 8904 if weather in doubt).

Sunday Concert
1pm Brass Quintet – Central Band of the Royal New Zealand Air
Force. 20th century brass music including New Zealand compositions. Performed by some of Wellington’s top brass players
2.30pm Don Franks & Jill Brasell – A little bit of bluegrass a little bit of rock and roll

Wednesday 1 June - 1pm Was Katherine Mansfield the First Modernist?
Charles Ferrall explores the possibility that some of the most striking innovations in early 20th century fiction were developed not by, as is sometimes thought, writers such as James Joyce and Virginia Woolf but Katherine Mansfield. His talk relates these innovations to such historical contexts as World War I, early 20th century philosophy and Fordist industrialism. In association with Katherine Mansfield Birthplace.

Thursday 2 June - 2pm Walk of the century – walk on the east side
Explore areas where Chinese and Greek communities first settled, delve into the early days of Wellington theatre and observe several chapters in the waterfront’s history. With Walk Wellington meet at the entrance to the Museum. (Phone 472 8904 if weather in doubt).

Friday 3 June - 11am Public tour of the 20th century

Saturday 4 June -10.30am Walk of the century – walk on the north side
Study the city’s intriguing range of architecture, learn something of pre-Pakeha Wellington and focus on Wellington’s unique transport systems through the last century. With Walk Wellington meet at the entrance to the Museum. (Phone 472 8904 if weather in doubt).

Brett Mason
Marketing & Public Programmes Manager
Museum of Wellington City & Sea


34.05
PHOTONEWS

Hi from James at Photospace
 
Mark Beehre - 41 Michael Street (Room 1)
 
Jessica Parker - Imperfect Visions of a Quiet Land (Room 2)
 
These exhibitions are running at Photospace Gallery, now until Saturday June 11th.
See www.exposed.co.nz for more images and information about these artists.
 
Lisa Alway of Exposed photography will be opening the gallery on Queen's Birthday, Monday 6th June, from 10am until 4.30pm.
 
Works are for sale, with the exception of several of Mark's images. Please note that Photospace gallery is no longer using red pins or dots to indicate exhibition sales, except in the case of unique prints. Please enquire about the purchase of artworks. Exhibited images are usually available framed or unframed, (as loose prints).
 
Also, when visiting the gallery, please feel free to come into the office and view the collection of stock artworks. There is a revolving display on the walls, and more in the drawers. If you have an interest in a particular artist's work, it may be possible to obtain more of their artwork to view, or we can put you in touch with their local representative dealer if they have one. There's a listing of stock artworks at www.photospace.co.nz/catalogue01.htm
 
Photography Courses:
 
Mark Marriott and I are now running photography courses on a regular basis now. Please have a look at www.photospace.co.nz/programme01.htm Introduction to Photography
and www.photospace.co.nz/programme02.htm Exploring Themes
 
There's still a couple of places on the Introduction to Photography course beginning on June 4th, so please get in touch asap if you (and/or a friend?) are interested in this.
 
Other Exhibitions:
 
Andrew Ross is included in a show of Wellington artists in Auckland, running until 4th June. Curated by Daniel du Bern, Models for a new community features 16 Wellington artists, and includes a good range of photography. It's at Canary Gallery, 214 Karangahape Rd.
See www.photospace.co.nz/whatson01.htm for more information.
 
Thanx,
James
 
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



34.06
GET VOCAL

http://www.voiceandperformance.co.nz/mainsite/



34.07
SALSA CALLS

Salsadrome back this Friday 27 May.
Forget about winter blues and enjoy the warm and sultry sounds of tropical salsa and Tango Argentino at Wellington's  Salsadrome and Tango Bar.

Tango Lesson 7:30PM
Salsa Lesson 8:30PM
Tango DJs Studio 2 8:30PM
Salsa DJ Studio 1 8:45 PM
36-42 Vivian St, Wellington Performing Arts Centre.
Till Late!
Still only $8
 
http://calendar.salsadrome.co.nz/
 
Clave Latina live at Latinos Friday 3 June
One of Wellington's hottest salsa bands featuring Carlos Navarette : vocals-guitar  and Adán Tijerina : congas.
June 3 at Latinos Bar corner or Tory St and Vivian St. PLus hot Latin styles Djs.
$10.
 
Salsadrome and Tango Bar  Friday June 10.
Tango Lesson 7:30PM
Salsa Lesson 8:30PM
Tango DJs Studio 2 8:30PM
Salsa DJ Studio 1 8:45 PM
36-42 Vivian St, Wellington Performing Arts Centre.
Till Late!
Only $8
 
Salsa Ball with Clave Latina at the St James Saturday June 18.
One of New Zealand's hottest salsa bands at one of Wellington's coolest salsa venues: featuring Carlos Navarette and Adán Tijerina.
June 18 at the St James theatre Jimmy Bar.
Tango Milonga 6pm-8:30Pm.
Free Salsa lesson 8:30Pm -9Pm
DJs 9:30pm -10:30Pm
Clave Latina 10:30Pm
DJs 12Am - 1:30Am
$10
 
www.salsadrome.co.nz



34.08
CITY SLICKERS

CITY GALLERY WELLINGTON AND TE PAPA ANNOUNCE LANDMARK PARTNERSHIP EXHIBITION

SMALL WORLD, BIG TOWN: CONTEMPORARY ART FROM TE PAPA
City Gallery Wellington
Presented by Simpson Grierson
10 July – 30 October 2005
FREE ENTRY

City Gallery Wellington, in association with law firm Simpson Grierson, is proud to announce ‘Small World, Big Town: Contemporary Art from Te Papa’, an exhibition in partnership with the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

This partnership will give audiences an opportunity to see an exciting and diverse range of contemporary New Zealand art. ‘Small World, Big Town’ has been jointly curated City Gallery Wellington and Te Papa, and includes work by 28 New Zealand artists, drawn from the Te Papa visual art collections.

‘Small World, Big Town’ takes as its theme a shift in artists’ thinking in recent decades, from concerns about national identity and nationhood to the ideas and impacts of globalisation, a would-be regionalism and the importance of individual experience.

The works selected for ‘Small World, Big Town’ focus both on the local and the immediate, as well as our growing sense of belonging to a global community. Now, as the world appears to shrink in scale, artists get their bearings from all over the globe. ‘Small World, Big Town’ offers audiences an affectionate look at ourselves as a big town on the periphery of an increasingly smaller world; remote, yet globally connected.

The works included in the exhibition range from iconic pieces by well-known artists, such as Peter Robinson’s ‘My marae, my Methven’, the centre piece of the 1995 international touring exhibition ‘Cultural Safety’, to recent acquisitions by emerging artists such as Peter Stichbury and Mladen Bizumic.

‘Small World, Big Town’ will present an exciting array of artworks, from Ani O’Neill’s six-metre long weaving made of florist’s ribbon and thread, to moving image work by Yuk King Tan, paintings by Michael Harrison and Bill Hammond, photographs by Fiona Pardington and Yvonne Todd, sculpture by Michael Parekowhai and Richard Reddaway and page works by cartoonist Dylan Horrocks.

A significant element of ‘Small World, Big Town’ will be the first New Zealand showing of Michael Stevenson’s ‘This is the Trekka’, made possible by its recent acquisition for Te Papa’s collections. ‘This is the Trekka’ was New Zealand’s presentation at the 50th Venice Biennale of International Art 2003.

City Gallery Wellington director Paula Savage says: “We are thrilled to have worked with Te Papa on this exhibition. I know the curators at City Gallery Wellington have really enjoyed working with a collection of such high calibre, and we are very much looking forward to presenting the results of our combined work to the public. We are sure that visitors will find ‘Small World, Big Town’ a fresh and engaging look at the fantastic work produced by New Zealand artists over the past 20 years.”

Seddon Bennington, Chief Executive, Te Papa, says: "Te Papa is extremely pleased to be working with City Gallery Wellington to develop an exhibition of works from our collections for the people of Wellington and visitors to the region. ‘Small World, Big Town’ complements the many works on display at Te Papa, and builds on our long term strategy to increase access to the treasures in our collections through our loans programme with New Zealand's public galleries and museums."

City Gallery Wellington is also very pleased to announce that the exhibition ‘Small World, Big Town’ will inaugurate a new sponsor-relationship with law firm Simpson Grierson.

City Gallery Wellington director Paula Savage says: “Partnerships with businesses like Simpson Grierson play a vital role in assisting City Gallery Wellington to achieve its mission of bringing the best of contemporary art to a wide public audience. We are proud to welcome Simpson Grierson as supporters of City Gallery Wellington, and moreover, as supporters of the arts in New Zealand.”

Simpson Grierson Chairman Rob Fisher says: “We are delighted to come on board as sponsors of City Gallery Wellington, and to play a part in the presentation of such an exciting range of contemporary New Zealand art. We look forward to our involvement in further similarly stimulating exhibitions at the Gallery.”


The artists featured in ‘Small World, Big Town’ are:

Mladen Bizumic; Derrick Cherrie; Margaret Dawson; Bill Hammond; Michael Harrison; Gavin Hipkins; Saskia Leek; Lauren Lysaght; Andrew McLeod; Anne Noble; Ani O’Neill; Fiona Pardington; Michael Parekowhai; John Pule; Richard Reddaway; Peter Robinson; Ava Seymour; Marie Shannon; Michael Shepherd; Michael Stevenson; Peter Stichbury; Yuk King Tan; Yvonne Todd; Ronnie van Hout; John Walsh; Ruth Watson; Boyd Webb; Brendan Wilkinson.



34.09
KIWI CRACKS IN CZECH GARDEN

http://www.praguefringe.com/
http://www.praguefringe.com/new/detail.php?id=9



34.10
GOOD FOLKS 

Join us on Sunday, 8pm, the new Arts Centre Gallery, 61 Abel Smith St (just up the road from Real Groovy Records) - either to listen to, or to play in, our bonus blackboard concert. Because May has 5 Sundays, we are taking the last one and offering an extra Acoustic Routes concert.
 
Anyone who would like to perform can turn up early and put their names on the black(or will it be white?) board. Depending on the number fo performers it will be 2 or 3 numbers each. If you are performing, this is a great opportunity to play a short set for our club. If you are audience, this will be a great opportunity to hear some of Wellington's great musical talent.
 
We look forward to it!
  
Also coming......................
 
Urban Ruby, 'Stomp, Swing, Swamp' play The Quarter (New Orleans style restaurant and Bar, 97 Dixon St)on Friday 17 June from 8.00pm. Kicking off a season of monthly Friday nights at The Quarter celebrating music with its roots in the swamps of Louisiana and the backroads of Texas.
This will be in the upstairs bar, a mellow dinner set from 8.00-9.00pm, then 9.15 - 11.00 stepping up into a dance set to finish your Friday on a high note, $5 at the door.
  
Cheers
Gerard Hudson
President - Acoustic Routes
gerard.hudson@xtra.co.nz



34.11
HAPPINESS IS

It is all go all go all gho all gmo all geo all goo all gto all god all gor all gov all gon
 
Out to get ya they are they are they are coming for you so you better shut your mouth clean your shoes polish the furniture and close you eyes cos here they come in their heavy boots with lots and lots of pieces of paper and endless phonecalls, computer generated messages and all manner of evil torture devices....just to make sure the end is as dull and moronic as possible......
 
THIS WEEK YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WITNESS....
 
Fri 27
SCRIBES OF RA 10pm
nutha big band bringing the Fela Kuti beats
 
Sat 28
AFRICAN DANCE PARTY by WAAKELIS
Hot African music, videos, dancing and celebrations....move those feet and shake your rear lumps
 
Wed 1 June 8.30pm
JOE CALLWOOD QUINTET - very hot like a barbeque plate modern jazz comnpositions with Bridget Kelly - reeds, Rosie Langabeer - piano, Tom Callwood - bass, Rick Cranson - drums, Joe Callwood - guitar
 
Thurs 2 June
CONSOLE 6508 - electro retro computer guitar blues!
 
and more to come including a repeat performance of POGANs stunning shows THE HOUSE OF USHER and Gerard Crewdsen's riveting EUGENICS opera.......and the MINT CHICKS with WHIRLWIND HEAT (USA).......THIS NIGHT CREEPS........DITZY SQUALL.......FETE DE LA MUSIQUE........and lots more at the HAPPY where sometimes we are grumpy.

Happy
corner Vivian and Tory Streets
384 1965
www.happy.net.nz
 
Come with me, I will show you how to fly like a bird
 
To join the Happy email list, contact:
producer@happy.net.nz
 
For fun, listen to: The Zero Hour - 89FM Sundays 11pm - 1am



34.12
MUSIC NEWS

http://www.muzic.net.nz/



34.13
RING OF FIRE

Rings musical lord of box office
First week's sales already $7 million

By RICHARD OUZOUNIAN

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1116971411879&call_pageid=968867495754&col=969483191630&DPL=IvsNDS%2f7ChAX&tacodalogin=yes


It looks like those Rings are golden.

One week after the box office opened to the public, the world premiere stage production of The Lord of the Rings has generated $7 million in sales.

Allowing for the $3 million (all figures Cdn) in group sales and the $1 million in Internet advance, that still means nearly $500,000 worth of tickets have been sold every day, an astonishing figure for a show that doesn't open for nine months.

"We've been totally blown away by the response" said John Karastamatis, director of communications for Mirvish Productions. "It's a wildly encouraging sign for the future."

The $27 million epic is being produced by Kevin Wallace and will feature a cast of 51 under the direction of Matthew Warchus.

The first round of auditions concluded in Toronto and all involved pronounced themselves "highly impressed" with the talent on display. Due to a special arrangement with Canadian Actors' Equity, up to five roles in the show may be cast from England, but the other 46 will come from here in Canada.

Rehearsals are scheduled to begin this October, with the gala opening night set for March 23, 2006.

Tickets are available at 416-872-1212 or at http://www.lotr.com



34.14
ARO VIEW

Upcoming exhibitions at 91 Aro St:
BEN KING 6 - 18 june
TIM WYBORN retrospective 4 - 11 July
LENSLESS group exhibition of pinholes, photograms and other lensless photography 19 - 31 july ROBYN KENEALY 9 - 21 august MELISSA ROYCE 23 august - 4 september MICHELLE JENSEN 6 - 18 september

Remember the Human Rights Film Festival. Schedule here:
http://www.humanrightsfilmfest.net.nz/schedules.asp#wellington


91 Aro Street http://aroarts.org.nz
91 Aro Street, Wellington, New Zealand

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34.15
GET BATTY

Kia ora koutou

This week at BATS – the best of the Fringe returns for this one only! Catch the critically acclaimed Karaoke Poetry - awarded Best Spoken Word and Best of the Fringe 2005 opening on Wednesday. Also Sheba Williams stars in The Josephine Baker Show, for three shows only.

Next at BATS – Young and Hungry! Opening on 17 June - check out www.bats.co.nz for more information.  We will be closed from 30 May – 16 June for maintenance.

To book for any performance at BATS simply email book@bats.co.nz with your name, number of tickets and date you wish to attend. We will reply to confirm your booking and you can pay when you come to the show.

Love BATS x

KARAOKE POETRY
Season: Wednesday 25 – Saturday 28 May
Time: 7.30pm
Tickets: $15 full price/ $12 concession and groups 10+

“In an hour Craig Ireson and crew are able to perform almost every style of poetry imaginable from T.S. Eliot to Missy Eliot in small easily digestible parts” Salient
“One of the highlights of the Fringe. Words pour out… and flow seductively over the audience” Capital Times

Karaoke Poetry is poetry like you have never heard, or seen, before. It features live music, pop references and cheesy video.  Craig Ireson has made poetry accessible and fun while retaining the intellectual edge that has always set poetry apart as the thinking persons’ pop music. And if poetry is the new pop then what would the karaoke booths be like? Imagine wannabe poet stars blasting Blake, Baxter and Tuwhare , banshee like, for the sodden nighthawks instead of paying an off key wayward homage to Britney, Boney M and the usual suspects.
 
Karaoke Poetry features original poetry and song from Craig Ireson (SK8Board Poets, Word Festival) with original Karaoke Video by Johanna Sanders, (Rear Projection Window Best Visual Artist from Fringe 2004). It also features live music from Andrew Savage (Sunship) and a deliciously irreverent cameo from Ciara Mulholland (Sniper, Most Original Production, Chapman Tripp Theatre awards, 2004).

This is not an open mike night, but a raucous revising of the poetical canon by an award winning crew of genre benders. So don’t worry; no-one will be asked to warble out “I will always love you” or do an acapella Sam Hunt number. Karaoke Poetry is guaranteed to satisfy your curiosity, defying classification and demanding attention with its sassy stomp through popular culture.

Back by pop opera demand! Winner ‘Best Spoken Word’ and ‘Best of the Fringe’ 2005.


THE JOSEPHINE BAKER SHOW
Season: Thursday 26 – Saturday 28 May
Time: 9.30pm
Tickets: $16 full price/$12 concession

The sellout Fringe Festival Josephine Baker Show,  is doing a short season at BATS Theatre. The show has a few new surprises second time around.
International performer Sheba Williams has created a show about the notorious cabaret singer Josephine Baker. In Paris she researched
Josephine's phenomenal life and has produced a show with a live jazz band and glamorous, risqué costumes.

Provocative, informative and entertaining.


BATS Theatre
1 Kent Terrace
Wellington, Aotearoa
bats@bats.co.nz
bookings 802 4175
office 802 4176
fax 802 4010
www.bats.co.nz
Karaoke Poetry 25 – 28 May
The Josephine Baker Show 26 – 28 May

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34.16
BLACK AND WHITE BALL

http://fundraiser2005.tripod.com/

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34.17
TAKE OUT

Out Takes 2005 Film Festival: 02 June 2005 - 12 June 2005
The 11th Annual Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
 
New Zealand’s annual showcase of the best recent queer cinema from New Zealand and around the world. Opening night in Wellington is June 2. Learn more at

http://www.outtakes.org.nz/

___________________________________________________________________

34.18
FLICKERING LIGHTS

New Zealand International Film Festival
15 July 2005 - 31 July 2005

Different lights on the silver screen! Movie lovers, your favourite time of year is just around the corner! The city's International Film Festival hits town this July. This is your chance to see cinema hand picked over the last year, from all corners of the globe. The festival is renowned for its innovative selection across a variety of genres, from documentaries and dramas to comedies, animation and retrospectives. Naturally there's work from home-grown talent screened alongside top international film releases. This year’s programme will include the 2005 Academy Award winning best foreign film (Spanish) The Sea Inside; Hell on Wheels, a documentary about the worlds toughest cycle race Le Tour De France (this was the first film to sell out at the Adelaide Film Festival), a strong selection of African films, a James Dean retrospective (East of Eden and Rebel Without a Cause) and the much talked about and controversial hip love story 9 Songs. With a selection of over 140 films there really is something for everyone!


www.nzff.telecom.co.nz

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34.19
GOOD MARK

Mark Amery replaces Anna  Cameron as Director. Under Anna’s directorship  Mark  was responsible for the development of Playmarket’s National Script  Development Programme with the introduction of a range of initiatives aimed at  providing a stronger national framework for both script and playwright  development.
As Director Mark Amery will continue to manage Playmarket’s script development activities as well as its agency services. Playmarket represents most of New Zealand’s playwrights in professional  production nationally and internationally. Playmarket’s script development  wing will be staffed by two Script Development Coordinators, one of whom Kathy  McRae has been working with the organisation since January of this year 
  “Through its services and programmes Playmarket is dedicated to the  development of theatre of excellence, recognising our country’s distinctive  cultural makeup and evolving performance traditions,” says Amery. “Playmarket  provides professional services for the playwright. The organisation has two  core areas of business - the Agency, which promotes plays and upholds the  rights of the playwright, nationally and internationally, and the National  Script Development Programme, which ensures that playwrights and scripts are  developed aiming for excellence. Playmarket continues to be committed to  seeing an increase in the quality of plays on the stage and an observance of  the rights of the playwright.”
  Script development enquiries should  continue to be sent to scripts@playmarket.org.nz, developer@playmarket.org.nz  or kathy@playmarket.org.nz, while Mark Amery may now be contacted at  director@playmarket.org.nz or on a direct line (0064) 4 382 8462.

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34.20
TELL ME A STORY

STORYLINES FESTIVAL FREE FAMILY DAYS 2005
Free Family Days include

Theatre excerpts from The Lion in the Meadow by Margaret Mahy; interactive performance with PERFORM, an Australian theatre group; Illustrators Gallery; a Margaret Mahy competition; puppetry; music; Hans Christian Andersen Grottee to recognise 200 years of  fairy tales; drawing and illustrating competitions, Walk and Wonder area of non-fiction and the chance to meet with more than 40 of New Zealand’s best-loved children’s writers and illustrators including: Joy Cowley, Gavin Bishop, David Hill, Brian Falkner, V.M. Jones, Janet Hunt, Tessa Duder, Tanya Batt, Fifi Colston, Kate de Goldi.  Children and families will also have the chance to meet newer writers and illustrators such as Jean Prior, winner of the Joy Cowley Award The Waka.
10am – 3pm at Westpac St James Theatre 
Saturday June 11
http://www.storylines.org.nz/cm.asp?pid=181

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34.21
CALLING ALL HANDS
A Request from Fearless Leader, Chris Morley-Hall…

Please can you send this SOS out:
I am searching for any one who is or thinks they are a circus performers , fire performers ,stilt performers , street theatre, roving performers…someone who could create a specific performance...Anything considered

cheers
Chris Morley-Hall
"El Capitan"
Gondwana Productions Ltd
Po box 9320
Wellington
elcapitan@whopperchopper.org.nz

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34.22
LATIN LOOK

The new Wellington Art Centre gallery (61-63 Abel Smith St) will host a exhibition by local Latin American artists now based in the Capital City. Organised by Incal Casa Latina Wellington, with the support of the Council’s Community Services office, the exhibition offers a close look at contemporary visual arts practice with unique links to Latin American cultures and traditions. An opening reception will be on Saturday May 28th at 7 pm with the participation of Los Andes-Latin American Folk Music Group. Readers of the No.8 Wire are invited. For more information, please call :

Natalia Parra Sierra 04-5688636 Rolando Olmedo 04-5687095
Curadora Director Incal-Casa Latina

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34.23
THE FUNDAMENTAL HYPE

http://www.thefundamentalpractice.org/Indextemp.html

http://www.etal.info/

A mission to make sense of the Biennale
By Peter Aspden

Published: May 24 2005 in Financial Times http://news.ft.com/cms/s/e74be47e-cbef-11d9-895c-00000e2511c8.html


It is like some kind of aesthetic in-joke: every two years, the world's most
anachronistic city, dripping in the decadent trimmings and old world
opulence of its golden age, also plays host to the most important
contemporary art festival of our times. In the space of a few metres, you
can move from a sumptuous palazzo on the Grand Canal to an installation of a car hanging from a church ceiling. You try to flag down a gondolier; he happens to be wearing black and has a coffin on board. A performance artist from Macedonia, of course.

The Venice Biennale is replete with such visual contradictions. As if the
maze of alleys and waterways were not enough to disorientate the
unsuspecting visitor, the attempt to present a definitive picture of
contemporary trends in art completes the job. Last time around, in summer 2003, nearly 300 artists were displayed in locations around the city. Video screens flashed, performance artists wailed, installations puzzled. Anyone
trying to make sense of it all would be better off trying to work out the
city's notoriously opaque house numbering system.

Enter the Biennale's new president, Davide Croff, a banker who has held
senior management positions at Fiat and the Banca Nazionale del Lavoro, who concedes that the festival has perhaps become "not very easy to understand". Bringing a touch of rigorous business thinking to proceedings, he has announced a programme for the next three years, starting with next month's edition of the festival, which he hopes will present "a clearer picture of where we are, and how we got there" to the world.

This year's 51st Biennale, directed by two Spanish curators, María de Corral
and Rosa Martínez, (the first co-curatorship, and the first women to do the
job), is already much slimmed down in terms of artists involved: just 91
contenders will bring their work to the city. Following the conclusion of
the festival, a series of seminars in other Biennale centres - Istanbul, São
Paulo, Shanghai - will lead to a grand symposium to be held in Venice in
December.

The following Biennale, of 2007, will take account of the symposium's
findings and present, Croff hopes, a state-of-the-art snapshot in a more
coherent way than has previously been the case. "Contemporary art has become more complicated," he says from his palazzo office in the Campo San Polo. "With the growing number of languages used by artists, the effects of globalisation, and the major world events of recent history, things are more confused. We do not have the presumption of wanting to explain everything, but just to say, OK, let's try to reorder."

I put to him that the confusion of contemporary art trends is surely endemic to the modern world, and he is quick to agree. "Yes, but even if it is endemic, and we have to live with confusion, even just to think about it is something that would give added value to the discipline. Our ambition is to create a debate. And to be criticised - that is part of the game."

So by the end of the 2007 Biennale, some kind of value judgment will be
expressed on the state of contemporary art? "Exactly. But this is not an
original idea. The Biennale has historically been concerned not only to
display the major tendencies in art of the time, but also to anticipate.
That has always been part of its cultural mission."

He says this year's two curators will complement each other's choices: de
Corral will present a show on The Experience of Art in the Giardini, the
historical centre of the Biennale, which will survey present-day trends. At
the Arsenale, site of the city's 14th-century armaments factory, Martínez
will curate Always a Little Further , which will be more forward-looking.
"It is partly to do with their personalities," says Croff of the two
Spaniards. "María is more mature, perhaps more institutional, she has been
at the Reina Sofia and so on, while Rosa is more aggressive and independent. They will both look forward, but from two different points of view."

Croff's banking background is no accident. The Biennale's other central
concern is to widen its revenue base, specifically to bring in more private
money. A reform last year that turned the Biennale into a foundation will
give it greater autonomy to this end, says Croff. "But we are not
particularly facilitated by Italian legislation. Private individuals receive
little or no fiscal benefit [from donating to the arts], and corporations
get marginal relief, which is totally different from a country like the US."

He says he wants to raise the amount of private money in the Biennale's €30m (£21m) budget, from its current 35 per cent of the total to 45 per cent, not least to protect it from a declining public subsidy. The Biennale is also organisationally responsible for the city's other arts festivals,
celebrating music, theatre, architecture, dance and, most famously, film,
and is showing some signs of strain.

But it is imperative, says Venetian-born Croff, to preserve the link between
the city and its festivals of various art forms: "Biennale is a great asset
to Venice, to Italy, to the world. Venice has a glorious past, but at the
same time it is able to be at the frontiers of innovation. It is an
opportunity not to be just a monument, but to live in the present, and look
towards the future."

The 31 pavilions in the Giardini form a snapshot of the world order as it
stood in the first years of the last century, with some of the buildings
lauded as architectural marvels in their own right. But that world order is
much changed today, and this year sees the inauguration of the Chinese
pavilion, which will be located in the Arsenale ("The Giardini are full,"
explains Croff matter-of-factly.)

He pays the now-obligatory tribute to China's emergence as a superpower, and hints that culture will become a powerful platform for the country to express itself. "This year we were approached in a very strong way by the Chinese. They said that they were ready to participate, and to have a strong presence in the Biennale. A delegation of 20 people came to stay in Venice for a week. We were happy to talk about their participation, maybe for 2007, but they were very determined to come in now."

Croff also talks of exporting the Biennale in some way to China, and indeed to other world venues. He says a tour of the 2003 exhibition to seven cities in southern Italy was very successful in attracting new audiences. Was he trying to create a brand? "In a way. Globalisation is total in this business. There are people who cannot come to Venice, so we can take Venice to them."

I ask him finally about the city's infrastructure - could it cope with the
ever-expanding visitor numbers to the various festivals? There was an outcry at last year's film festival, when the film schedule overran and Al Pacino was forced to wait for a couple of hours for the delayed premiere of The Merchant of Venice .

Croff says he is looking for a big new venue in the city that could act as a
headquarters and cultural centre, and then sighs and shows just a touch of exasperation. "Sometimes I am very puzzled by the press. We talk about big projects and great ideas, and all they focus on is the lack of mineral
water, or the fact that it is too hot. Yes, it's true about Al Pacino. He
was in my office. But he was happy." Venice, he might have added, has that effect.


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34.24
IT"S A VISUAL WORLD

Links to all sorts of visual art makers, presenters, and supporters in New Zealand

http://www.nz-artists.co.nz/links.htm

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34.25
DANCE UNTIL SOCKLESS

Wellington’s favourite cavalcade of terpsichorean happenings returns with a flourish, followed by a pas de chat, rounded out by a lobster quadrille…

http://www.feelinggreat.co.nz/arts/event/dance/290.php

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34.26
LITMUS TEST

On 27 May, Massey University’s School of Fine Arts in Wellington will launch LITMUS – a new platform for contemporary arts research, practice and presentation. Distinct amongst University arts initiatives nationally, LITMUS is not a gallery, but a catalyst for the production of new work in new contexts.

LITMUS – as its name suggests – is conceived as a means to develop and test a range of strategies and conditions for the making, reception and discussion of contemporary art. Focusing on projects which are public, temporary and which exist beyond gallery space, LITMUS provides an open and flexible structure in which to bring artists, curators and researchers together to create and write about artistic activity in an expanded field.

Operating on campus from the former Director’s Office of the now relocated National Art Gallery, LITMUS inherits a rich contextual history. Embracing the potential of this context as a stimulus and site for contemporary art, LITMUS – in its first year of operation – focuses its attentions within the museum. In a series of projects the initiative will work with significant national artists to develop new work, which engages with the particularities of this remarkable location.

The inaugural LITMUS project Sit Talk Look Write, which opens to the public on 28 May, is a new site-responsive work by Wellington artist and Fine Arts lecturer Simon Morris – made specifically for the LITMUS facility in the former Director’s office.

Radically transforming what is currently a standard and anonymous office space within the administrative annex of the College of Creative Arts, Morris’s work will vitalise LITMUS as an active environment for research and discussion, and signal the initiative’s commitment to the development of contemporary visual art.

Sit Talk Look Write presents a process-based wall drawing, together with new furniture, reworked existing furniture and interior surfaces to encourage viewer awareness of space and function. While inhabited by Morris’s work, the LITMUS facility operates as both exhibition site and office. The viewer becomes participant and visa versa.

Closely aligned with the aims and scope of LITMUS, Morris’s practice has long been engaged with the conditions of site. His work has developed from the field of painting into the expanded terrain of installation, architecture and public space. In previous projects, he produced wall drawings that aimed to reveal the architectural qualities of interior environments and heighten the viewer experience of space in time. More recently, this trajectory has concerned itself with ideas related to objects in three- dimensions.

LITMUS will be launched on 27 May at 6pm. Sit Talk Look Write is open to the public from 28 May to 8 July, with weekly hours of Wednesday–Sunday, 12noon–4pm. Access via Massey University Entrance D. From main doors to the Museum Building, follow signs to mezzanine floor and space 10Bmezz10.

For further information and/or images please contact Kate Griffin, LITMUS Project Director on tel: (04) 801 2794 extn: 6197 or email: k.a.griffin@massey.ac.nz.

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34.27
ULTIMATE ENJOYMENT

For Enjoy's first show in its new 147 Cuba Street premises, we present:

The End of Water
Shay Launder
Opening Celebration: May 24 6pm
Performance with Natalie Moreno starting 6.30pm
Artist Talk: Wednesday June 8 6pm
May 25 – June 10

Ideas for banners for The End of Water:

Headlong into the Future
Gravity Must be Worked On
Drowning Methods and Accidental Speech
We Are Dirt
Our Desperate Velocity
The Honesty and Generosity of the Future
The Forested Desires of the Future
Grow, you rubbishy weed, you are not alone in the forest
Rebuild!
Water for Sadness
Deepest Values and Aspirations
I Surrender
Secret Happiness
Great Ship, Fully Laden
Your Departure
Towards Improvement
New Societies
On the Threshold of Miracles
Recent History of Failed Relationships
Gravity versus Tears
I'm too sad to tell you
Please Forgive Me
Before It's Too Late
I Need Your Help
Deferred Maintenance
What should we do with the Animals?
We Whisper News Into Each Other's Ears
The Ground Falls Away
Preparing Ourselves for the Future
The Sun's Noise
The End of Water: Ex-Divining Sticks.

Sticks, in conversation.
What are they talking about?
They are reaching out to each other.
but they are sticks, after all, so not very
affectionate by nature,
They can't help it

the whole span of love, which has been languishing, will be swept up and take residence in the world. The birds already know of it and find it inside softened boulders. Rescue teams will be sent in to retrieve it and encounter intoxicated animals. Sometimes they never return. We will patch together our clothes and call out to one another across ravines and streets. These activities mark the distance of our disappearance, which is that of a glorious exit of the emergency kind.

Please note Enjoy's new opening hours:
Wednesday to Friday 11am - 6pm
Saturday and Sunday 11am -4pm
 
 
Enjoy Public Art Gallery
Level one, 147 Cuba Street
Wellington
 
384 0174
enjoy@enjoy.org.nz
www.enjoy.org.nz
 
The Enjoy on-line discussion forum is up and running again.
Go to www.enjoy.org.nz/discuss to have your say.

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34.28
IT”S ONLY HUMAN

New Zealand’s inaugural human rights film festival has opened in Wellington

A film festival with a difference –– is bringing extraordinary documentaries and dramas to the big screen near you.

With a programme that includes the radical, entertaining Resistencia: Hip-Hop in Colombia, the global street battles of The Fourth World War, and the heartfelt independence struggles of people in Burma and across the globe.

The Festival features some high profile dramas topped by British director Ken Loach’s Bread and Roses (starring Adrien Brody, lead actor in Peter Jackson’s King Kong); and the newly released, stunning fictional account of the September 11 hijackers, Hamburg Cell produced by New Zealander Finola Dwyer.

“The films in our festival tell stories which touch lives, and we are delighted to be bringing them to New Zealand audiences” festival co-director Carol Nelson says.

“These films are fresh, raw and real,” says co-director Boris van Beusekom. “We’re seeing a global explosion in documentary film making as people take advantage of exciting advances in camera and editing technology and are now able to document human rights abuses and victories in their own back yard.”

The festival is the initiative of the Human Rights Network of Aotearoa New Zealand, an independent, non-partisan, non-government organisation formed in 2000.

www.humanrightsfilmfest.net.nz

Wellington 25 May -1 June The Paramount

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34.29
IT”S IN THE STARS

Matariki: The Mäori New Year Tour

Towards the end of May or early June each year the star cluster Matariki - or Pleiades - appears in our dawn skies. The Maori New Year begins with the first new moon after Matariki's appearance. Come and join Te Papa and the Carter Observatory to learn more about this time of feasting, entertainment, and ceremony.

A guided tour departs from inside Te Papa's main entrance at 3pm and includes a tour of Matariki taonga (treasures) and stories at Te Papa followed by a bus ride to Carter Observatory for a planetarium performance and refreshments, returning to Te Papa by 5.30pm.

The tour costs $20 per person and reservations are essential as maximum numbers apply. Please contact the Te Papa Tours Manager by phoning (04) 381 7111 or faxing (04) 381 7170 or emailing reservations@tepapa.govt.nz

Tour dates:     Tuesday 7 June
        Saturday 11 June
        Tuesday 14 June
        Saturday 18 June

Tour departure time:    3pm
Tour completion time:    5.30pm
Cost:   $20 per person

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34.30
FEELING GREAT WANTS YOUR STUFF

Hi everyone!

The deadline for submission of all material for our July publication is looming in the next couple of days (I'm also taking July School holidays material too but please get this in as soon as possible). I'm keen to put in as much imagery as possible so please forward any images you may have (if they are 300kb or more) so we can promote your event. Thank you in advance.

Kind regards,
Amanda Gregan
Marketing & Publications Co-ordinator, Recreation Wellington
www.feelinggreat.co.nz

801 3459
Fax 801 3635
amanda.gregan@wcc.govt.nz

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34.31
CASH IN
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR PRIZE IN MODERN LETTERS
The biennial Prize in Modern Letters is designed to acknowledge and advance the work of emerging writers in New Zealand. The value of the Prize is NZ$60,000.
The Prize in Modern Letters was established by Glenn Schaeffer, founding patron of the IIML. As well as highlighting the achievement and potential of a major new writer, the Prize will significantly enhance awareness of New Zealand literature in the USA and internationally.
The inaugural Prize in Modern Letters was won by novelist Catherine Chidgey in 2002, and in 2004, the prize was awarded to poet Glenn Colquhoun.
The Prize in Modern Letters is awarded every two years. The following deadlines relate to the 2006 award. Nominations close 29 July 2005. Shortlist announced October 14, Winner announced March 2006.
http://www.vuw.ac.nz/modernletters/activities/prize-in-modern-letters.aspx

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34.32
CREATIVE CHOICES

'PORTFOLIO CHOICE'
19 May- 8 July
Art Compass
132 Tory Street
Wellington

Choose a unique art or design from any of our artists to be printed on a T-shirt, specially for YOU! Be part of this unique fundraising event and show the world how fantastic supporting Art Compass can be.

original art
prints
jewelry
art cards
and our popular T-shirt collection

Marcel Baaijens
Programme Director
Art Compass Studio-Gallery
supporting artists with intellectual disabilities Compassion Centre
132 Tory Street
Wellington
385.9298 / 021-1770.181

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34.33
CALLING ALL SHORT STORY WRITERS
Enter the Bank of New Zealand Katherine Mansfield Awards 2005.
The Premier category prize is NZ$10,000, Novice and Young Writer category prizes are NZ$1,500 each.  The winning Young Writer's school is awarded NZ$1,500 and a creative writing workshop hosted by a prominent New Zealand writer.
For eligibility criteria, full entry conditions and to enter online visit www.bnz.co.nz/kmawards.
Entries close 30 June 2005.

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34.34
TE WHAEA, SOON

Coming to Te Whaea:

Battles of the Heart 31 May - 4 June - War through the eyes of extraordinary everyday people, performed by second year actors at St Andrew's Church Hall, 30 The Terrace. The show is produced in association with Gaylene Preston Productions and includes monologues from the film War Stories Our Mothers Never Told Us and Alison Parr's book Silent Casualties, as well as scenes from Allen O'Leary's play Fond Love and Kisses.

Slaves to the Rhythm - Choreographic Season 17 - 25 June - Slaves to the Rhythm brings together New Zealand's most outstanding percussionists STRIKE and 2nd & 3rd year contemporary dance students from the New Zealand School of Dance. Find yourself at the mercy of the driving rhythm.

The Chekhov Season 9 - 13 September - The second year class of actors is split into two groups - each group will perform a different show each night - one group will perform Chekhov's The Seagull (a comedy with three female parts, six male parts, a landscape, much talk about literature, and five tons of love) while the other performs Anne Bogart's Small Lives Big Dreams (a play about memory that examines how characters in Chekhov's plays are haunted by the past while attempting to look forward).

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34.35
CON/TEXTUAL

Texts and Subtexts
John Di Stefano

In the exhibition, Texts and Subtexts, interdisciplinary artist, video-maker, writer and curator John Di Stefano explores the controversial figure of Italian filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini (1922 – 1975).

As a politically engaged artist and openly gay man living in the tumultuous Italy of the 1960s and '70s, Pasolini was continuously portrayed by the media as a social outcast. His name became synonymous with scandal and 'otherness' despite the fact that he was highly respected as an artist and intellectual. He was assassinated in 1975 leaving behind a rich and varied body of filmic and written work.

Di Stefano's installation-comprising video, sound, photography, interactive book-work, and site-specific works form a sort of alternative museum that attempts to critically reframe aspects of the public archive of press imagery, filmic material and varied ephemeral texts left behind by the slain filmmaker.

In Texts and Subtexts, Di Stefano's approach is that of a critical meditation which attempts to reclaim Pasolini's 'otherness'. As a first-generation Italian-Canadian, Di Stefano's relationship with Pasolini is not that of a biographer, but that of a translator who shares a cultural and linguistic background with the filmmaker. Di Stefano negotiates the complexities of cultural translation and acculturation to suggest that we think of the expression and representation of identity as porous and fluid, made up of numerous overlapping symbolic and cultural experiences, all modulated with the use, and abuse, of language(s).

John Di Stefano (MFA, UCLA) is an interdisciplinary artist, video-maker, writer and curator. He is Associate Professor, and Director of Postgraduate Studies at Massey University's School of Fine Arts (Wellington). His studio work is focused primarily in video, installation, photo-based and time-based media, and has also included performance, bookwork, site-specific and public art projects. He has extensively exhibited and published internationally since the mid-eighties.

“Pier Paolo Pasolini, screen writer, essayist, poet, critic and novelist, was murdered violently in 1975. Pasolini is best known outside Italy for his films, many of which were based on literary sources - The Gospel According to Saint Matthew, The Decameron, The Canterbury Tales. Pasolini referred himself as a 'Catholic Marxist' and often used shocking juxtapositions of imagery to expose the vapidity of values in modern society. His friend, the writer Alberto Moravia, considered him "the major Italian poet" of the second half of the 20th century.

Pelorus Trust Mediagallery
Friday 13 May 2005 -Saturday 4 June 2005
9.00am till 5.00pm

The New Zealand Film Archive
PO Box 11449 Wellington
Aotearoa, New Zealand
384 7647
http://www.filmarchive.org.nz

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34.36
FRONT PLACE

Coming up this week on Frontseat
Sunday Evening on TV1

THE MUSIC OF RUGBY
All Black Anton Oliver and Mu, the band-leader of current chart-toppers Fat Freddy's Drop, tell Oliver Driver what music and rugby can learn from each other.

All Black hooker and Highlander captain Anton Oliver is an arts-literate music fan and the proud owner of a NZ-made guitar. Mu (aka Chris Faiumu) is the rugby-loving captain of the Wellington all-star band Fat Freddy's Drop, who have rocketed to the top of the Top 50 Album chart with their debut long-player 'Based on a True Story'. Mu is up for 'Most Outstanding Musician' and 'Best Producer' in this week's BNet Awards.

In a world where music plays an important part in hyping up the crowds at live games, and where a Friday evening match often precedes a night out watching local bands, Frontseat is delighted to bring these two men of action together for a rare and special conversation.

WHO LOVES WHO THE MOST?
Frontseat examines the relationship between iconic Kiwi songs and big sports matches, talking to "game enhancement" specialist Mark McLeod, who's programming the Lions Tour stadium music. Also featuring are: musician Jordan Luck; muso-broadcaster Graeme Hill; rugby-loving NZ Music Industry Commission head Cath Andersen; and Flowz from Wellington hip hoppers Footsouljahs who raps about rugby exclusively for Frontseat. 

THREE’S COMPANY
To top off this music-themed programme, the NZ Trio talk about their new album, their residency at the University of Auckland, and perform ‘dirty pixels’, a work in one movement for piano trio, commissioned by the NZ Trio from Michael Norris. 

http://www.frontseat.co.nz

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34.37
JUMP AND JIVE

Musical Babies and Tots at Wellington's New Arts Centre

Wellington's musical little ones have a special place, every Friday morning, at the new Wellington Arts Centre. The popular Musical Babies and Musical Tots programmes began on May 12, and offers weekly sessions for parents and children who want to explore music, dance, movement, and creative play.

Music educator Sarah Conroy will be running the classes, and she can be contacted now about enrolment and participation. The classes offered at the new Wellington Arts Centre, 61-63 Abel Smith Street, are as follows:

Thursdays at 10:00-10:30 am
Musical Tots: a fun music and movement class for children aged 18 months to 4 years.

Thursdays at 10:45-11:15 am
Musical Babies: a fun class of singing and finger play for babies aged 12 to 18 months.

Thursdays at 11:30-12:00 am
Musical Babies: enjoy a fun and close time with your baby in a class designed to start your child off on their musical journey. For babies aged 6 to 12 months.

Fees for term two are $58.50 for nine sessions or $52.00 for PTL holders. Musical Babies and Tots classes begin on Thursday 12 May 2005 and run until Thursday 7 July 2005. To register your place for next term, please contact Sarah Conroy on 976 2754 or by email to sarah_mike@paradise.net.nz. Class sizes are limited and pre-registration is essential.

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34.38
PINTERESQUE

Betrayal, by Harold Pinter
A Backyard Theatre Production
At the Gryphon, 22 Ghuznee Street
Through 28 May 2005
In February 2005, Pinter announced that, after 29 stage plays, he wasn't writing any more, preferring to channel his energies into other activities, particularly poetry and politics. He said he was incensed by the betrayal of the people by the Labour Party and stated it as his mission to get rid of Tony Blair.
With his retirement from writing for theatre, could this production be seen, then, as part of a retrospective?
"It could", says Julia Harris, who plays Emma, "if the subject and the characters were in any way dated, but they're not. They ring as true in 2005 as they did in 1978. People don't fundamentally change, and Pinter was writing about the fundamentals of human nature."
Phil Peleton, who plays cuckolded husband Robert, agrees. "I think if you were going to have a retrospective, you'd have to put Betrayal in there. It's not as surreal as some of his earlier plays, but it's still concerned with the same issues - class, social conformity, role playing. To me these characters are constantly trying to redefine their roles and relationships. They're desperate to find affection and safety, but in that very brittle English way.
When Betrayal first appeared in 1978, it received some of the harshest reviews in theatrical history. Some critics saw Peter Hall's production as a shameless throwback to an era when the drama preferred to concern itself with adulterous husbands, "other" women, and interminably eternal triangles. Yet a revival in 1998, by Trevor Nunn to popular acclaim, showed that the script is as up to date as ever.
Emma's marriage to book publisher Robert, which had survived seven years of adultery, is now finally crumbling. At risk, also, is the friendship between Robert and Jerry, Emma's lover.
From this poignant starting point, Harold Pinter's award-winning play travels back in time, visiting pivotal points in the relationships between these three characters. We stop where the story actually begins—at a party, with a kiss. Who betrays whom, and how, is the essence of the play, told in Pinter's sparse yet eloquent style, and replete with his iconic pauses.
Husband and wife Mark and Julia Harris and colleague Phil Peleton are no strangers to the Wellington stage or to each other. They have all worked together as actors and singly as directors. Now, they bring their experience together directing each other's performances as a collaborative venture.
Says Mark Harris: "it's been a very interesting and stimulating process. We started rehearsals sitting and talking, rather than blocking. We shared a common understanding of the characters and the subtext of the piece before we moved onto the stage in earnest. So, the direction is seamless. I can't even tell who managed which bits now. I've directed Julia before, and we've both acted with Phil, but now we're all working so closely it's very exciting. There's a level of trust that belies the subject matter of the play."
Backyard's production of Betrayal is now on at the Gryphon Theatre, 22 Ghuznee St. and runs until 28 May. Shows are at 8pm, except on Sundays at 4pm. There are no performances on Mondays. Tickets are $20 ($15 for concessions and groups) and bookings can be made by phoning 0832 77202
http://www.backyardtheatre.co.nz/

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34.39
TELLING TALES

Wellington Storytellers’ Cafe at the New Arts Centre

The Storytellers’ Café is the home of storytelling in the Capital. From 7:30 – 9 pm on the first Tuesday of every month except January, the café is open to everyone.  Come along to the next session at the new arts centre, 61-63 Abel Smith Street. All you need to do is bring your ears!  Each month a different teller takes the stage, and there is always room for offerings from the audience.  Cost is $5, tea, coffee and nibbles are provided.

Contact: 021-687-627

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34.40
COLD CHILLIN’ AT THE DOWSE

The New Cool
May - August 2005
The Dowse Art Museum

The New Cool are dancing to their own version of the commercial beat and reshaping the way we think about business.

The New Cool showcases the stories of 12 young New Zealand companies, celebrating creative business outside the 9 to 5. Defying the 'slacker' reputation of youth culture, companies (including Dawn Raid Entertainment, Huffer Clothing, Loop Aot(ear)roa Recordings, Disruptiv, Illicit, Sidhe Interactive, and Insidious Fix), have successfully transformed their creative passions into business dollars.

These inspirational stories are all about big ideas
and very small beginnings, the hard years, the timely successes, the concept of 'co-opitition' that comes from working with and for your mates, and the simple satisfaction of waking up each day and loving what
you do.

The New Cool is a highly interactive multi-media event that will be on show at The Dowse from late May - August 30, 2005.

Free Seminars: A series of free seminars will also run alongside the exhibition giving visitors the opportunity to meet the directors of some the The New Cool companies and learn how to develop a positive entrepreneurial attitude.

www.dowse.org.nz
(04) 570 6500
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34.41
THE NO.8 WIRE: PAST AND PRESENT

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

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34.42
CONTACT THE NO.8 WIRE

To be removed from this email list…

To be added…

To submit contents, events, opportunities, or comments to contribute to…

Please send word to arts@wcc.govt.nz

Furthermore, send comments, questions, requests, etc to

Eric Vaughn Holowacz
Wellington Arts Centre
61-69 Abel Smith Street
Wellington, New Zealand
Arts@wcc.govt.nz
04-385-1929

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THE NO. 8 WIRE INTERVIEW CONTINUES

The Octo-numerical Query.
A batch of questions is presented.
A creative person answers.
http://www.octonumerical.blogspot.com/


MAIRE SMITH

What cities/towns have you lived in (or spent more than a few months in), beginning with your place of birth.

Wellington, with a few months as a Birmingham housewife (I don’t recommend it).

What are the earliest stories you remember hearing?

Stories about my family – my grandfather’s grandmother, my brother, my mother – and myths and legends – especially Norse and Greek myths.

What music was present and still memorable from your youth/adolescence?

My parents introduced me to sixties folk, folk rock, and blues, while I discovered glam rock and punk for myself in my early teens, but I think the most memorable music from my childhood would be my mother’s wonderful singing repertoire of folk songs: traditional Scots and American tunes, and miners’ strike songs.

For you as a creative person, who are three influential artists or thinkers?

My father (who showed me that I could paint and gave me his old oils)
Rob McLeod (who taught me art at high school)
Dorothy Sayers (whose discussion in her books of the role of creativity in artists’ lives I’ve found immensely useful)

What is your dream of happiness?

A world where everyone is interested in almost everything

Who are your favourite or most admired figures from history?

Leonardo da Vinci
Queen Margaret (as portrayed in Shakespeare’s Richard the Third)
Elizabeth the first

Name three films that you consider profound, moving, or extraordinary.

Marat:Sade.
The Lion in Winter
Singing in the Rain (for the extraordinary Make ‘em Laugh sequence, which I think is one of the best song and dance numbers ever made)

What was your first real job? second? third?

What counts as real? I’ve always worked in short-term, contract, or part-time roles, so I have trouble categorising work this way. By different definitions of “real job”, my first real job was proof-reading a collection of short stories, working as a shop assistant, or working as the assistant to the publisher at an educational publishing house.

If you had to eat the same meal every day, what would it be?

There’s no way I’d eat the same meal every day. I can’t imagine it.

Name a few books that you couldn't put down, would read again, haunt you still.

Not a book, but the Old English poem Deor is something I go back to again and again
Moominvalley in November by Tove Jannson
Eight Days of Luke by Diana Wynne Jones
The Riddlemaster of Hed by Patricia McKillip
The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
The Bear That Wasn’t by Frank Tashlin
Tree and Leaf by Tolkien
There are quite a few children’s authors in here. I think this may be because distilling things down to make something that works even when it’s simple often seems to make literature more powerful.

What have you done, seen, experienced, or produced that was a disappointment to you?

It sounds hackneyed, I know, but I’ve worked hard not to brood on disappointments, and I can’t really think of any particular one off the top of my head. I’ve had plenty, but I’m more interested in what I’m going to do than in what has failed to be what I expected.

What was the most recent live performance you attended, and where was it presented?

I’m not sure. By the time this is published it should be the final show by IdleFaction at the Valve on Friday 13 May 2005.

In one sentence, can you define art?

No. Definitely not. I tend to go along with the “it’s a cultural construct” school of thought, but I couldn’t define it that easily.

What word of advice would you offer an aspiring artist in your field?

Have fun and go for it. Not trying just means you definitely won’t make anything cool. Trying gives you a chance.

Where would you like to live, but have yet to?

Noumea, perhaps. I love Wellington, and I don’t really feel a great need to leave.

What would you like to do, but have yet to?

So very, very much. I’ve really just started exhibiting my work, so there’s that… I’m working on a couple of books (small works) one for self-publishing, one children’s book. This week’s mental space has been taken up by an artwork I want to make – I need to get started on that before I lose it. Really, just so much to do.

Briefly describe a project you are planning for the future.

I’m working on a book on the local self-publication scene. I wanted to have it done by now, actually.

What one question would you add to this Query?

I’m not sure it needs one. I think I’d take out the movies question and make the books question into a books and movies question.


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH:

Maire Smith is from Wellington. She works in oil and other media on canvas – including an unusual combination of body paint, photography, and oil painting. Her first public exhibition, About a Girl, took place in March 2005. Her work has tended to focus either on semi-mythological portraiture or on mythologised landscapes:

“I like to explore form, character, and archetype. Working with established symbols (such as the corvids associated with traditional war gods) gives me the ability to imbue my images with connotations that speak on more than one level. I have worked with oil on canvas for about ten years, and I am very excited by the way new technologies allow me to combine oil painting with photography to create artworks with aspects of both media.”

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ENDNOTE

How would you define Jazz?

Some of the biggest names in jazz have said basically the same thing in different words. Benny Goodman, one of the most important figures in the history of the art form, admitted he could not define jazz. Louis Armstrong, the man who propelled the art form, had a simple definition:

"Jazz is my idea of how a tune should go." Duke Ellington, usually pretty articulate with words (as well as music), once defined jazz as "freedom of expression." But he admitted that really wasn't a very serviceable definition. Later, Ellington said, "I don't think I have a definition anymore, unless it is that jazz is a music with an African foundation which came out of an American environment." Singer Ella Fitzgerald found it impossible to define jazz. She said, "I don't know. You just swing!" Big band drummer Chick Webb, who discovered Ella in the 1930s, tried to define jazz in personal terms. He said, "It's like lovin' a gal, and havin' a fight, and then seein' her again." Saxophonist Charlie Parker once defined jazz as "a happiness blues."


AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY