Our latest exhibition is what I would like to call a rapid response show- one that was created on a very short timeline in response to what is happening in the world around us the moment.
Formal Friday became a whimsical trend in New Zealand during our response to Covid-19 global pandemic.
We’ve heard it all before; we went into lockdown for weeks on end, we were asked to work from home, we socially distanced, we shrunk our social bubbles and started living in our comfy gear. Whether this was all day in active wear, rotating the same pair of trackpants, or refusing to put on “real clothes.”
In effort to break up the monotony New Zealand moved from casual Fridays at the office, to Formal Fridays at home. All championed by our very own TV personality Hilary Barry!
Wearing Formal wear on Fridays uplifted our spirits, got us looking in our closets for our best glad rags and made Friday meetings on zoom something to look forward to.
The movement of
#FormalFridays went viral with up to 40,000 tags alone on Instagram and many others taking part across other social media channels.
At Te Awamutu Museum we chose to harness this energy to ignite our own textile collection by creating a show that spans from the 1830s until today, and show what Formal Friday has meant to different people over time. Whether this is through the ceremonial outfits, what we once wore as daily attire, our uniforms or our best wears to church on a Sunday.
For our attempt at developing and creating a rapid response show and getting it all together in 6 weeks, we are pretty proud with how it all came together!
Here’s a video by our Megan Denz (Collections Manager) showing you some highlights from the exhibition.
Due to popular demand, we have extended this exhibition and will add new components to it. Watch this space!
Te Kōpuni Kura: Collected Treasures of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa
Te Kōpuni Kura is the name of the Te Wānanga o Aotearoa art collection. The name reflects what the collection is – “kōpuni” a group or body of “kura” treasures. First initiated in the late 1980’s through the acquisition of tauira (students) and kaiako (tutors) artworks, Te Kōpuni Kura now consists of over 1000 artworks, displayed across multiple sites, representing the rich history and unique character of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
Drawing from Te Kōpuni Kura, the works selected for this exhibition represent ringa toi (artists) who have helped to shape, establish and deliver Toi Māori (Māori art) programmes at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa over the past 35 years. Collectively representing the calibre of knowledge, expertise and leadership that have been instrumental in the development of this unique pathway of Māori art education, and act as treasured reminders of this history.
Tukua te toi, kia tupu te toi, kia whanake te toi ki te ao, hei hiringa whakaaro mō te katoa.
Let the arts grow and develop in the world, to be an inspiration for all.
On show from 20th September 2020
Te Ohanga Ake is a PHD exegesis exhibition describing visually, intergenerational knowledge exchange through Māori fibre arts.
Te Kanawa, based in Te Kuiti, acknowledges her mother Diggeress Te Kanawa and her kia, Rangimarie Hetet as her primary sources of knowledge and innovation. Te Kanawa remembers on of her mum’s says that epitomises her weaving process. “Mum always said this to our whānau…”
“Tō tātou waka, ko te rangimārie, te hoe o runga, te puna o te aroha e!”
“Our waka is the waka of peace, the paddle that propels us forward is the source of love from above!”
Te Ohonga Ake is an exquisite collection of kete, kākahu, pot, whāriki, tīpare, tukutuku, piupiu and kono, created between 1970 and today. The extensive grouping of taonga on display accentuates Te Kanawa’s development of her own creative processes and innovations.
The highlight within the collection of work is Te Kanawa’s personal challenge to re-create a pūkoro based on a taonga from the Otago Museum Collection.
“This was something that caught my eye. I was drawn not only to its weave and use, but I wanted to disparage its description given by an early European who tossed it aside as a rag!”
In addition to Te Kanawa’s own work, she has included some beautiful taonga created by her mother, grandmother and great grandmother, some of which they worked on together as a whānau.
“Mum and Nana, always said to me as we were working together – let your mahi speak for you”
This exhibition does just that. It shares the exchange that happens between whānau members when working in and sharing the intricacies of traditional art forms and processes. Mauri ora!
Whatu Manawa
Celebrating the Weaving of Matekino Lawless
This exhibition showcases signatures works, chosen from a comprehensive collection of kete dating from the 1980s to the present, along side kakahu and whariki.
This is the first solo presentation of weaving by renowned weaver Matekino Lawless (Tainui), who celebrated her 90th birthday in February 2018.
She has gained a number of awards including the QSM, Creative NZ: Te Waka Toi: Kingi Ihaka Art Award and most recently was made a Fellow of the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
This is the first time this exhibition has been displayed in the Waikato, and will be showcased alongside Uenuku in our Tangata Whenua Gallery.
The exhibition is only here for a limited time, don’t miss out!
Developed and toured by: Tauranga Art Gallery: http://www.artgallery.org.nz
Principal Exhibition Partner: Holland Beckett Law: http://www.hobec.co.nz
10th May – 19th October 2019
Back by popular demand!
Explore the special relationship we have with dogs in all aspects of life! It is amazing how man’s best friend has been part of our lives throughout history.
Do you have a great working dog on your farm, a much loved furry family friend, foster pups looking for their furever homes or support the wonderful work assistance dogs do? Come along and share all your favourite dog stories and photos!
Open from January 24th 2019
Something blooming wonderful is here!
Don’t miss this beautiful blooming exhibition by David Lupton, who has been photographing pressed flowers for the past six years, constant experimenting and refining his craft. This comes with some amazing and interactive public programs from photography lessons with David to pressed flower making.
A touring exhibition propagated by: HauNui Press and in association with Earle Creativity Trust.
Follow this link for the associated workshops here
Open from September 29th 2018
