Gandhi Exhibition Darfield Artweek Diwali—Festival of Light Celtic Fiddle Orchestra
A Monthly Insight into the Arts Scene in Selwyn
Selwyn Arts Newsletter SUPPORTING THE ARTS The Creative Communities Assessment Committee needs new community representatives for the Malvern, Selwyn Central, Springs and Ellesmere wards. The unpaid positions are for a term of three years. Travel expenses are reimbursed. Ideally candidates will have been actively involved in the arts in the respective ward, and keen to encourage and promote arts activities within the Selwyn District. If you are interested in this position, please apply in writing or email, Including details of your involvement in the arts by 5pm Friday 16 October 2015. Address your application to : Creative Communities Assessment Committee Position, Selwyn District Council, PO Box 90, Rolleston 7643, Attention Stuart Westoby For further information email Stuart Westoby stuart.westoby@selwyn.govt.nz 03 347 2708
Kia Ora This coming month is all about celebrating culture and diversity and the strong art scene in Selwyn. I was fortunate to attend a course last month about working with different cultures. I found this incredibly inspirational and thought provoking. I learned more about where we have come from as a nation and how rich our history is. For example, Maori were prolific writers, historians and political commentators in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s in New Zealand and were actually proportionately more literate than NZ Europeans. In fact there were 47 Maori language newspapers in circulation at that time. This led me to investigate further and read the articles through google translate—they were fabulous! Well worth the read. I am quickly discovering how much our district is changing and growing and how important it is for me to have an understanding of the challenges that come with being from a different culture and living in New Zealand. We kick the month of October off with an exhibition of international importance— Gandhi exhibition which features in two Selwyn locations, Lincoln and Darfield. Selwyn Libraries are celebrating cultural diversity by holding Indian craft, Henna and Zentangle sessions during the school holidays. In the middle of October the Lincoln Rotary Multicultural Festival kicks off at Lincoln Event Centre, showcasing a variety of performances. Down By the Liffey Gallery hosts an exhibition by three Christchurch artists celebrating detail, colour and life and Darfield comes alive with its major exhibition of the year “Darfield Artweek” - a week of celebrating a diverse range of artistic talent. Finally to finish off the month, Lincoln holds its first ever Diwali—Festival of Light. This will be a great day out for kids and adults (see inside for more information) Rachael Inch- Arts Coordinator
Selwyn residents will have a rare opportunity next month to view a historic collection of photographs of Indian spiritual and political leader Mahatma Gandhi. The Selwyn Arts Trust together with the Selwyn District Council, is presenting a renowned international photographic exhibition of Gandhi’s life, at venues in Lincoln and Darfield. The 34 seldom-seen photographs of Mahatma Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi were taken by photographer Dr Dahdboy Rustam Wadia during the 1940s. They include portraits and informal photographs of Gandhi with his friends, followers and with Nehru, Jinnah and other major political leaders of the Indian independence movement. The photographs span all aspects of Gandhi’s life, showing him at home in quiet villages, at public gatherings and at formal political meetings. “Gandhi was a figure of historic importance to our world, who led the Indian independence movement. India’s move to gain independence encouraged other colonies to follow suit,” says Selwyn Mayor Kelvin Coe. “The values of peace and tolerance that Gandhi personified are universal. This exhibition is a wonderful opportunity for people in Selwyn to learn about the life of Gandhi, and to celebrate those values and the cultural diversity of our district.” Many in India and abroad hailed Gandhi by the Hindu title “Mahatma” meaning great soul. Gandhi trained as a lawyer until 1895 where he was invited to be an advisor to an Indian firm in South Africa, during which time he became a politician, journalist, and a strong figure for the Indian community, which was being increasingly subjected to social and legal discrimination on racial grounds. It was during this time that he began to perfect ‘satyagraha’ - a form of non-violent protest in times of conflict for which he remains well-known today. This photographic collection is on loan from a private collection and has been made available to the public with the support of Surinder and Archna Tandon, keen volunteers in the Indian community in New Zealand. The exhibition will open on Gandhi’s birthday, Friday 2 October, at 7pm. Limited tickets to the opening event are available. The public exhibition will be on display free of charge at the Lincoln Event Centre during the weekends of 3 and 4 October and 9 to 11 October. The exhibition is open from 9am—4pm. The second weekend of the exhibition coincides with the Lincoln Multicultural Festival which is supported by Selwyn District Council and other sponsors. For a ticket to the opening event in Lincoln, please contact Selwyn Arts Trust Arts Co-ordinator, Rachael Inch by emailing arts@selwyn.govt.nz or phoning: 03 347 2722 Images from the Gandhi exhibition will also be displayed at the Darfield Library during Darfield Artweek, from 10 to 17 October.
Exhibition at Down By The Liffey Gallery Debbie Garland, Robyn Schroeder and Kerian Gill Three established Christchurch artists, Debbie, Kerian and Robyn exhibit their exciting mix of paintings and sculpture, a unique exhibition full of detail, colour and life…not to be missed. 30 September to 25 October Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm
Loretta Sloan, Art In Felt Tatyanna Meharry, Pretty Little Things. An Exhibition of Felt and Ceramic Artwork.— Selwyn Gallery 2 - 29 October 2015 The work of Loretta Sloan is truly mesmerising; felt is manipulated into Incredible garments and framed artworks using stunning colour combinations.
simply extraordinary. Meharry has won many awards for her ceramic and textile work and has been Risingholme Ceramics Director for several years, where she teaches regularly. Tatyanna will be at Selwyn Gallery on 9 October from 1-3pm to meet people who are interested in her work.
Sloan’s love for textiles evolved whilst working for the Ashford Craft shop in Ashburton, where she learnt all aspects of wool and fibre craft. Her love of painting is reflected in her artwork, using wool as the medium. A 2010 First entry into the World of Wearable Art Competition resulted in Sloan becoming a finalist. She has gone on to have a total of five garments selected as a finalist in the competition over the past few years, with “All Sorted” in 2011 from the Children’s Section, which was awarded Highly Commended (3rd Place) - all of which have anchored her position as an important textile artist. Tatyanna Meharry creates beautiful ceramics in various ways, both for use in the home, and more experimental works for exhibiting. In ‘Pretty Little things’ we experience the sad fate of extinct birds such as the
‘We are so lucky to have these very busy artists at Selwyn Gallery, so do not miss the chance of seeing their exceptional work’ says Arts Coordinator Ingrid Cole. The Selwyn Gallery will be open daily (except Mondays) from 10am to 4pm for duration of this exhibition.
Huia, decimated by the Victorian pursuit of collecting exotic ‘objects’. Their illustration in ceramic form, compounds their fragile existence, and is fitting comment for today’s consumerist attitude. Her work is exquisite and her skill
An exhibition programme will be available on the gallery's website www.selwyngallery.co.nz or from the gallery
Celtic Musical Afternoon Gathering
Blanche Fryer and David Lloyd are hosting an afternoon gathering at their gallery/ home in Southbridge on Sunday the 11 Oct, 2pm, featuring the local Southern Celtic Fiddle Orchestra. The Orchestra is based in Leeston, but some of the members travel quite some distance to perform in the group. The concert will be held at the Mistlewood Gallery and will feature a mixture of individual and group performances with a few friends included, maybe even a young Irish dancer! Admission is just $5 and light refreshments will be served as part of the afternoon. For more information please contact the gallery Phone: 03 324 2884 Email:
mistlewoodgallery@gmail.com
Art in the Cathedral—An opportunity for artists to exhibit Artists are invited to exhibit in the “Art in the Cathedral” Exhibition in November. The exhibition is run by the Winding Road Trust. The Winding Road Trust was established in 2007 and its vision is to assist academically able students who lack the financial backing to complete their high school education to go on and achieve an undergraduate degree. The Trust grants two scholarships a year. Enquiries: Lorraine Dawe, lorrainedawe@snap.net.nz
Darfield Artweek Lineup Over 100 artists works on display—FREE ENTRY
Main Exhibition showing in Darfield Recreation Centre 9th October 2015—18th October. 10-5pm daily
Gandhi Exhibition— showing at Darfield Library 10th—16th October
Loretta Sloan, Art In Felt & Tatyanna Meharry, Pretty Little Things.—Showing at Selwyn Gallery 2 - 29 October 2015
Local band flying to NAPIER ART DECO FESTIVAL 18-21 FEBRUARY 2016 The Flying Dixies! Jazz Band is a non-profit group of six musicians that rehearse in Rolleston and perform at a series of community and private events around the District. The band currently comprises of: Alison Donley, Dunsandel
clarinet
Caroline Burt, Lincoln
tenor saxophone
Kate Redgrove, Rolleston
trombone
Mark Rawdon, Rolleston
drums
Russell Officer, Christchurch
trumpet
Dan Slater, Christchurch
bass trombone
Originally named ‘The Ellesmere Dixies’, this group was born from the Ellesmere Concert Band, formerly the Ellesmere Brass Band, an organisation that has been in operation for more than 150 years in Leeston. The music played by the band is sourced from a historical society in the United States and comprises predominantly charts scribed and made popular in the 1920s and 1930s (commonly referred to as the ‘Art Deco’ age). The earlier works in the collection are recognised as ‘traditional jazz’ or ‘dixieland’ style jazz standards. Trip to Napier – the Art Deco Festival, February 2016 The Flying Dixies! are preparing for a trip to the Art Deco Festival which is held annually in Napier. In 2016 the Festival will be held between 17 and 21 February. The trip involves just the band – their families will not be accompanying them. The Art Deco Festival provides an excellent opportunity to immerse the band in the spirit of everything that era is known for, not just music but all other elements that made this period of history very distinctive. There will be experienced music groups playing pieces relevant to the era and the visit will represent an invaluable learning experience for all musicians involved. They are currently looking for sponsorship to attend. If this is something that you, or someone you know would like to support, please contact arts@selwyn.govt.nz
Diwali—Festival of Light On Saturday 31st October 2015 Lincoln will host its very first Diwali—Festival of Light on the green behind the Lincoln Library and Laboratory. Diwali (or Deepavali, the "festival of lights") is an ancient hindu festival celebrated every year. Diwali is the biggest and the brightest festival in India. The festival spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness. Selwyn will hold Diwali in Lincoln on the 31st October 2015. The event will feature a range of traditional Indian art forms, performances, crafts to participate in, food stalls, traditional clothing demonstrations and displays where you are able to try on the traditional clothing. Selwyn is a diverse and growing community. The Selwyn District Council recognises the importance of bringing different cultures together and celebrating our diverse culture.
This has been a collaboration between the Selwyn District Council and COINZ—Colours of India New Zealand. The artforms highlighted on the day consist of Henna, Diya Painting, Rangoli, Block Printing, Stone painting. There will be some traditional food available to purchase and a wonderful performance line up of traditional Indian performances throughout the event. The event runs from 4.30pm—8.30pm
School Holiday Activities at Selwyn Libraries
You will find all sorts of interesting events and displays on Indian Culture, Diwali and Light, around Selwyn libraries these school holidays. There are some cool sessions on the art of henna and zentangle, culture craft making light holders with origami, and fun walls of art! Additionally there will be Science Alive holiday sessions and LEGO fun as well. For more details please visit www.selwynlibraries.co.nz
School Holiday Programme - Performing Arts October 5th- 9th By a popular vote our theme is ROCK STARS!(OSCAR & WINZ approved) Theatre Classes Term 4 Come join us as we put on our CHRISTMAS SHOW! Contact Mandy Hopkins: 027-919-9205
Nutpoint Centre Saturday 31 October 7.30 p.m. Concert No 4 J.S Classical Jazz Barry Brinson & Cathy Irons Jazz Quartet Cathy Irons (Violin) Barry Brinson (Piano) Michael Bell (Double bass) Doug Brush (Drums)
Calendar of Events for October. 01 Oct 01 Oct 01 Oct 02 Oct 02 Oct 02 Oct 02 Oct 03 Oct 03 Oct 03 Oct 03 Oct 05 Oct 05 Oct 06 Oct 07 Oct 08 Oct 09 Oct 09 Oct 10 Oct 10 Oct 11 Oct 17 Oct 24 Oct 31 Oct 31 Oct 31 Oct 31 Oct
A Lady, A Bird & A House— runs till 25 Oct “The Servant” film showing at Body Festival until 11 Oct (dance & performance) Gandhi An Exhibition Opening Art in Felt & Pretty Little Things opening Henna/Zentangle Craft session 10am—11.30 Rapid Storm, band competition 1st Heat Gandhi Exhibition runs till 4th October Picking at the Remnants Live Music “Reconstruction” Live Music “Rhino” Live Music Indian Culture Crafts 10am—11am Stage Door Holiday Programme—Rockstars Indian Culture Crafts 2pm—3pm Indian Culture Crafts 1pm—2.30pm Indian Culture Crafts 10am—11.30am Gandhi Exhibition runs till 11 October Darfield Artweek Opening runs until 18 Oct Gandhi mini exhibition opening until 16 Oct “Headrush” Live Music Southern Celtic Fiddle Orchestra Concert “Nightwatch” Live Music “Route 66” Live Music Jazz Concert—Classical Darfield Tennis Club Hoedown– Rock n Roll Diwali—Festival of Light “Six Left Standing” Live Music
Down by the Liffey Gallery West Melton Film Society www.thebody.co.nz Lincoln Event Centre Selwyn Gallery Rolleston Library Te Kohatu, Lincoln Lincoln Event Centre Allen St Rock Bar Robbies Riccarton The Rock, Rolleston Darfield Library Kirwee Hall Rolleston Library Lincoln Library Leeston Library Lincoln Event Centre Darfield Recreation Centre Darfield Library The Rock, Rolleston Mistlewood Gallery The Rock, Rolleston The Rock, Rolleston Nutpoint Centre Greendale Hall Lincoln Library/Laboratory The Rock, Rolleston
The World Buskers Festival 2016 is coming to Selwyn!!
The festival is expanding by putting on a roadshow and Selwyn District will be a destination! This is your opportunity to be involved as part of the buskers day. We are now accepting submissions from Selwyn performers/Musicians to perform.
If you would like to be considered for this amazing opportunity, simply upload a video of your performance on our Facebook Page: www.facebook.comArtsinselwyn
For further information regarding these events please visit the above websites or Contact the Arts Co-ordinator—Rachael Inch Email: arts@selwyn.govt.nz Phone DDI: (03) 347 2722 cell: (027) 521 4948
Photographer
Aytons Photography www.aytonsphotography.co.nz
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