TOI MĀORI RESIDENCY – STEVE SOLOMON

18 September – 12 December 2018

 

11 Don Street

 

Gallery hours:

Tuesday – Friday 9:30am – 5pm

Saturday 10am - 4pm

 

In 2018, the Southland Museum and Art Gallery Niho o te Taniwha, sponsored by Creative New Zealand and the Invercargill Public Art Gallery (IPAG), is presenting local Kāi Tahu carver Steve Solomon in the Toi Māori Residency.

 

The residency initiative has risen from discussion between the Museum and the Iwi Liaison Komiti (comprised of members from the four local Kāi Tahu Murihiku Rūnaka; Ōraka Aparima, Hokonui, Awarua, Waihōpai), and the artist.

 

The residency is a pivotal implementation of the Museums’ collaboration with contemporary Māori artists in meaningful projects that are focussed on connecting the community with sacred taonga (treasure). It is anticipated the activity will assist in the ongoing development and preservation of Ngāi Tahu whakairo rākau (wood carving) while increasing accessibility to heritage arts.

 

A key element of the residency kaupapa (purpose) is to offer sustainable support towards development of a local emerging Māori artist. During the residency, Steve Solomon is working on the waharoa (gateway) that will become the main entrance into the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) campus on Tay Street. The waharoa will depict mana whenua/tangata whenua (local people connected to the area) supporting SIT tauira (students) through their learning journey, and will be used to welcome manuhiri (visitors) and new tauira during powhiri (welcome ceremony).

 

Steve Solomon wishes to acknowledge the support of Matua Michael Skerrett, Matua Arana Collett, and Penny Simmonds.

 

TOI MĀORI RESIDENCY – STEVE SOLOMON will be located at the IPAG pop-up gallery at 11 Don Street, Invercargill, and open to the public from Tuesday, 18 September 2018. The residency will be ongoing until 12 December 2018.