Posts
Two Nunavut artists to take part in SCANZ water and peace
Tungilik challenges views on Inuit art – the work above, selected for the Venice Biennale, is a poignantly comic take on the territory’s addictions—gambling, smoking and drinking
Intercreate.org, Te Matahiapo Indigenous Research Organisation, Creative New Zealand and the Western Institute of Technology at Taranki are honoured to host two Nunavut (Canadian Inuit) artists to the SCANZ residency: Jesse Tungilik and Stacey Aglok MacDonald. They will attend the SCANZ2015:water*peace international celebration of water and peace in Nga Motu New Plymouth from January 17th to February 1st. Both embrace the difficult and complex questions of what identity means in current society.
The Nunavut Territory is the newest territory in Cananda, and one of the largest and least populated regions in North America and Europe. Nunavut have lived there for at least 4000 years. The land claims agreement with the government of 1992 was ratified by 85% of Nanavut and the territory officially established in 1999.
Both artists will have work on show on the final weekend of SCANZ, Saturday 31st and Sunday 1st February in Huatoki Plaza and Puke Ariki landing. Aglok MacDonald’s video work will be projected under the road at the sea end of Puke Ariki landing, and the site for work by Jesse Tungilik will be revealed on the day.
Jesse Tungilik is a Pangnirtung, Nunavut-based bench jeweler and contemporary Inuit artist who grew up in several different communities in Nunavut and the North West Territories. His first foray into the Inuit art world was when he was just eight years old working after school at the Matchbox Ceramics Gallery in Rankin Inlet, and had his first show a year later at a bank lobby in Yellowknife, NWT.
He then took a hiatus from art to pursue education and his other passions such as travel and environmental and cultural advocacy. These passions brought him far and wide from the vast ice fields of Antarctica, to the Moai of Easter Island to the Steppes of Mongolia. He has worked extensively with indigenous people’s organizations both professionally through positions with the national Inuit organization Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the National Inuit Youth Council, the Arctic Council Indigenous Peoples Secretariat, and personally; participating in Indigenous youth exchanges in Norway and Finland.
Jesse rekindled his love of creating art in his mid-20s working at the Aayuraa Jewelry Studio in Iqaluit where he was mentored by master artist Mathew Nuqingaq. Jesse has drawn inspiration from his many adventures and encounters with indigenous peoples from around the world to create art that reflected his experiences. He has strived to push the boundaries of his creative practice by experimenting with many different art forms and media. In addition to the jewelry that he makes primarily out of silver, ivory, baleen and muskox horn, he has painted public murals, made mixed media sculptures, created political assemblage pieces, dabbled in charcoal and oil pastel portraiture, and has written short fiction stories.
His work has been exhibited at Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association Art Festivals in Iqaluit, Nunavut and at the Great Northern Arts Festival in Inuvik, NWT and has also been featured in publications such as Up Here Magazine and Northern Public Affairs Magazine. Currently, his focus has shifted to arts administration working for the Government of Nunavut Department of Economic Development & Transportation as Intern Manager of Cultural Industries.
This is a production still from ‘Throat Voices’ produced by Stacey Aglok MacDonald, which addressed complex issues of culture and identity, embracing Nunavut identity and including issues that are pertinent to New Zealand – youth suicide for one
Stacey Aglok MacDonald is originally from Kugluktuk, a small community in western Nunavut. She first became involved in filmmaking in 2004 as a production assistant and character on the documentary series Staking The Claim: Dreams, Democracy and Canadian Inuit, which is now used as educational curriculum in high schools across the Nunavut territory.
Other projects that she has led have included training youth in over 20 communities across Arctic Canada in film production and editing, and producing workshops for youth on Acting and Performance as well as Inuvialuit Drum Dancing.
In 2012, Stacey won a Canadian Screen Award for Best Short Drama for her 17-minute live-action film Throat Song. She has produced a number of music videos in collaboration with other Nunavut-based filmmakers and musicians including The Jerry Cans and The Trade Offs. Today she is producing and directing two Inuktitut television series which are broadcast on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, one of which is a popular youth-oriented television show called Qanurli? and the other is a call-in talk show called Qanuq Isumavit.
She has a feature film in development and plans on writing and directing a new short film in the coming year. Stacey currently resides in Iqaluit, Nunavut with her 6 year old daughter.
Calling kids and families
Min White of Quirky Creative is also a master of henna
Intercreate.org and Quirky Creative are pleased to announce a suite of workshops themed on water and peace, as part of SCANZ2015 International Celebration of water and Peace. The workshops are for ages 5+ up to adults, and whole families are welcome. A week of workshops begins Monday 26th January and runs through to Friday 30th.
If you have an interest in mosaics, tie-dye Hippy peace culture, raindrop art, or tiny art projects to be abandoned and found, read on. Some of the outputs from the workshops will be on display in Huatoki Plaza on the 31st of January.
Quirky Creative – SCANZ 2015 Water and Peace Programme
Mon 26 Jan 1-4pm
Vessels: Mosaic baths for birds or bees, or mosaic glass water bottles
Kids will be making shallow mosaic dishes for birds, or for bees (bees need water too! And they adore blue things). Adults and older kids have the choice of starting a more intricate stained glass mosaic on a glass water bottle suitable for the dining table.
Tue 27 Jan 10am-1pm
Psychedelic Hippy Day: Tie-dye shirts with a peace message
Hippy philosophy is about more than the rainbow tie dye, but it is an eye-catching way to say something important. Make a shirt to wear at Saturday’s public gathering! BYO white cotton t-shirt. We will have fabric panels available if you can’t bring a t-shirt.
Wed 28 Jan 1-4pm
Raindrop Art: Glistening drops to display later at Huatoki Plaza
We’ll use several different art forms, including Zentangle, to create raindrops – take some home, donate some for Saturday’s display.
Fri 30 Jan 10am-1pm
Art Abandonment: Tiny projects made to be abandoned and found
Stencilled rocks, bottlecap collages, woolly octopus, and some other surprises – abandoned art is made to be left somewhere around town, with a tag for the finder to let us know what they found and where.
Sat 31 Jan 11am-4pm
Visit the Quirky Kids space at the Huatoki Plaza
Workshops held at Creative Focus, Block C, WITT
Booking is essential due to limited spaces. For more info contact Quirky Creative.
SCANZ 2015 programme
This is the final programme for SCANZ 2015 events running from Friday 30th January to Sunday February 1st.
SCANZ 2015 INTERNATIONAL CELEBRATION OF WATER AND PEACE
Artists and performers from Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, Canada, America, Vanuatu and Nanavut Territory
Night time projections Pukekura Park 9-11pm Friday 30th January, starting at the Boat Shed Lawn
For further information in the form of short descriptions of the works to be projected, read more here.
International Day in Puke Ariki Landing and Huatoki Plaza 11am – 4pm Saturday 31st January
11-4pm Artworks will be displayed along the Huatoki stream, from the sea end up to Redcoat Lane.
Allan Giddy (NZ/Australia) has an installation where the Huatoki meets the sea. Tracey Benson (Australia) will be at Huatoki Plaza to demonstrate her augmented reality installation Words for Water. USA artists James Werner and Ava Werner have a GPS locative work and an installation respectively in Sir Victor Davies Park. Prim Rose Wari (Vanuatu) has woven work near the Red Coat Lane bridge, along with Vicki Smith from the West Coast of the South Island.
11am – 4pm – Fluid City, artists from the University of Auckland with activities for all ages, up in Huatoki Plaza.
11am – 4pm – Children’s art about Water and Peace, made at the Quirky Creative workshops during the week.
11am – 12.30 – find out all about water for kids of all ages with Kevin Archer, TRC Education Officer and Chris Fowles. The session includes looking at water samples for the tiny creatures living there and finding out how healthy the water samples are. Chris and Kevin will be there in thigh waders and take samples from the Huatoki Stream. They will be on Puke Ariki landing.
1.00pm – Dance performances in the lower area of Huatoki Plaza.
2pm – Launch of the Vanuatu Women’s Water Music DVD beginning in Huatoki Plaza and moving to at Puke Ariki landing.
2.30pm – Riverside cinema – video by artists on water and peace under the road at Puke Ariki landing.
7.00pm – 11pm Riverside cinema – video by artists on water and peace under the road at Puke Ariki landing.
Walking hui-symposium on water and peace 11am – 4pm Sunday 1st February, meet at Huatoki Plaza
Take part in discussions about water and peace, and hear artists talk about their work.
RAIN VENUE: ART / F BLOCK, WITT (20 Bell Street, New Plymouth)
11-4pm Artworks along the Huatoki stream (see above for details). If it rains, the Walking Symposium will be held up at the WITT campus – meeting at F Block.
7.00pm – 11pm Riverside cinema – video by artists on water and peace under the road at Puke Ariki landing.
Come along and join any event for as long as you like, there is no need to book
Sponsored by Intercreate.org, Creative New Zealand, Te Matahiapo, TSB Community Trust, Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki and the Intercreate.org community
Quirky Creative – SCANZ 2015 Water and Peace Programme
The following programme is for ages 5+ to adult – bring the family!
Mon 26 Jan 1-4pm
Vessels: Mosaic baths for birds or bees, or mosaic glass water bottles
Tue 27 Jan 10am-1pm
Psychedelic Hippy Day: Tie-dye shirts with a peace message
Wed 28 Jan 1-4pm
Raindrop Art: Glistening drops to display later at Huatoki Plaza
Fri 30 Jan 10am-1pm
Art Abandonment: Tiny projects made to be abandoned and found
Sat 31 Jan 11am-4pm
Visit the Quirky Kids space at the Huatoki Plaza
Programmes held at Creative Focus, Block C, WITT
Booking is essential due to limited spaces. For more info contact Quirky Creative.
SCANZ2015:water*peace
Artists, tangata whenua and locals in the environment of Taranaki, with the Waiwhakaiho River and Taranaki Maunga (mountain) in the background. This photo is from the recent Intercreate event “Ko Tatou te Tangata.”
What
Water is essential to survival, revered and respected worldwide for its power, creative and curative abilities.
Wai, water or flow is central to the worldviews of many indigenous cultures of Earth, and is of special significance to tangata whenua (the people of the land) of Aotearoa New Zealand.
The scientific study of water and the onset of turbulence was central to the development of Chaos Theory.
Today water monitoring in the environment has become important to sustainable approaches to water management.
Water as a resource has become intensely politicised and monetised, in contrast to the view that access to fresh water is a fundamental human right.
Peace is also essential to the sustainability of humans on Earth.
SCANZ2015:water*peace brings together people from diverse backgrounds,connecting everyone in a positive expression of our relationship with water and the power of peace.
Where
Water*peace begins on the with noho marae (overnight stay) at Parihaka in Taranaki, Aotearoa New Zealand. The 18th and 19th of each month are special days of the celebration of Te Whiti and Tohu, prophets of peace in colonial times. They were leaders during an infamous episode of New Zealand’s history, and Parihaka is today world renowned for the stance on peaceful protest in the face armed constabulary.
On the afternoon of the 19th, SCANZ participants will return to Nga Motu New Plymouth where they will stay and work on the campus of the Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki. Over a two week period they will collaborate, work with visit and be visited by locals, conduct workshops and create works and projects to be exhibited on the banks of the Huatoki River walkway.
There will be a public activity day, viewing of the installations and night time projections in Huatoki Plaza. A walking symposium on the final day will follow the path of the works along the Huatoki up to Pukekura Park.
When
Saturday January 17th – participants arrive in Nga Motu New Plymouth. There is a welcoming on to the WITT campus.
Sunday January 18th – travel to Parihaka (depart 8am). Overnight stay at Parihaka. Group discussion in the evening with residents of Parihaka.
Monday January 19th – mid to late afternoon return to New Plymouth.
Tuesday January 20th – morning – first presentation by invited guests (likely to be a tangata whenua group).
Wednesday January 21st – morning – second presentation ( local electronics specialist Andrew Hornblow).
Thursday January 22nd – morning – third local presentation (environmental group).
Friday January 23rd – morning – fourth local presentation (likely to be a raranga/weaving session, may involve travel).
Saturday January 24th – day is open to explore Taranaki, do project work, take part in spontaneous collaboration or take a beach, coastal or mountain walk.
Sunday January 25th – day is open to explore Taranaki, do project work, take part in spontaneous collaboration or take a beach, coastal or mountain walk.
Monday January 26th to Friday January 30th – working on projects / collaboration / testing / installation / preparation for weekend presentation.
Saturday January 31st – Day of installation of projects along Huatoki walkway and or Pukekura Park. This is also the public activity day in Huatoki Plaza. All applicable projects presented in the Plaza. Night time projections either in Huatoki Plaza or Pukekura Park.
Sunday February 1st – commence hui / walking symposium at 9am along the Huatoki walkway. Poroporoaki / reflections on the residency in the late afternoon.
Monday February 2nd – participants depart accommodation for outward bound travel.
Please note the above schedule may change and is subject to confirmation by appropriate organisations and individuals.
media art project selected
This image of the laser being tested was taken during the SCANZ residency in January and February 2013 (photo by Kalya Ward)
Laser Karakia Artwork Selected as Media Art Project 2014
A project that utilises laser light technology to carry sound has been selected as the Intercreate Media Art Project 2014. Ko Tatou Te Tangata by Stuart Foster and Kura Puke, with Dr Te Huirangi Waikerepuru and Te Urutahi Waikerepuru, will employ oscillating lights to carry both the human voice and environmental sounds.
The technology was tested at SCANZ, an artist residency held at WITT in New Plymouth earlier this year. Laser beams were sent to a light receptive panel that had speakers connected. The result was that waiata, karakia, karanga and sounds of moving water were transmitted. For the SCANZ project, the karakia was contributed by kaumatua Dr Te Huirangi Waikerepuru with the tangata whenua, Ngāti Tawhirikura.
Kura Puke (Tapuke) has whakapapa to the hapu of Katere ki Te Moana marae, which extends from the clifftop at Fitzroy, to Te Rewa Rewa Pa on the coastal walkway. Both Puke and Foster are lecturers at Massey University Wellington, while Te Huirangi Waikerepuru and Te Urutahi Waikerepuru direct Te Matahiapo Research Organization based in New Plymouth.
For the Media Art Project they wish to deepen the engagement with tangata whenua and locals, and investigate how to “transform an environment often seemingly subsumed by commercial industry into an awareness of the dynamic layered diversity of the land” which involves embracing “the intangible and the unseen energies” to inquire into and visualise ideas about, wairua (essence), mauri and the virtual.
As the commissioner of the work funded by the Arts Council of New Zealand we are extremely pleased with the calibre of the project, and the way advanced technology is integrated with the local environment, local community groups and customary Maori knowledge.
Background to the project
Intercreate Trust is based in New Plymouth and Auckland, with head office in New Plymouth. Funding was received from the Arts Council of New Zealand to commission a project that inspired “artists and creative teams to think boldly about combinations of cultural ideas and contemporary media technologies, that could be implemented in public space and/or Pukekura Park in New Plymouth. The projects are likely to involve working with local groups.” A second project is under consideration.
The selection process involved blind review, where the selection panel does not know the names of the people applying. While the applicants submit a CV, the CV also doesn’t mention names.
The panelists were: Chris Connolly, Pukekura Park curator; Nina Czegledy, who is the Intercreate International Research Fellow; and Australian based curator Leah Barclay. Intercreate’s Executive Director was not on the panel and ensured names were omitted from the applications, prepared the applications for review by the panel and also collated the panel responses. Rhana Devenport was on the selection panel until she left for Auckland, as was Anna Carrington until her move to Wellington.
Artists full statement
In their application, the artists Puke and Foster stated that “this trans-disciplinary collaboration hopes to contribute to innovative knowledge transfer with the tangata whenua, and to offer an experience that may deepen the engagement of local people and visitors through inclusive visual-aural ceremonial and relational events. They also wish to investigate, through social encounter and art-design culture, how to transform an environment often seemingly subsumed by commercial industry into an awareness of the dynamic layered diversity of the land which involves embracing the intangible and the unseen energies to inquire into and visualise ideas about, wairua (essence) mauri and the virtual.”
Useful links
Intercreate page describing the project and how to apply
http://www.intercreate.org/media-art-projects/
Artist links
Kura Puke
Stuart Foster
Te Huirangi Waikerepuru and Te Urutahi Waikerepuru
Maori translation and dictionary site
http://www.maoridictionary.co.nz/
WITT (Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki) site of SCANZ residency where technology was tested by the artists
http://www.witt.ac.nz/
Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa The Arts Council of New Zealand, funder of the MAP 2014 project
http://creativenz.govt.nz/
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter