Art and about

Te Uru Waitākere Contemporary Gallery, in partnership with Christina Houghton and Melissa Laing, has announced the third season of Walking About performances to take place during ngahuru (autumn). This season brings walking projects from artists and performers Andrew McMillan, Melissa Laing, Vanessa Crofskey, Richard Orjis and Jeremy Leatinu’u.

Walking About is a contemporary art series that explores the relationship between walking and art. Starting in September 2019 and finishing in August 2020 12 artists will create walks-as-artworks and artworks-as-walks, and invite the public to join them in moving through the spaces of Auckland, co-creating the works with their passage. Walking About has received support from the Auckland Council, Albert-Eden Local Board and Whau Local Board.

Andrew McMillan: Echo Eco Echo, until April 13. Sound artist Andrew McMillan has composed an answer to the question: What sound happens just out of sight, just out of earshot, just before we arrive and right after we’ve left? Using environmental sensors and field recordings, he has created an audiophonic walk for Te Auaunga / Oakley Creek walkway and Waterview shared pathway. People are invited to download the composition onto their preferred listening device (visit http://walkingabout.nz/echoecoecho/) and, headphones on, journey along Te Auaunga / Oakley Creek Walkway and Waterview Shared Pathway. Echo Eco Echo has been created in collaboration with John Coulter and Chris O’Connor, and has received support from Auckland Council and Albert-Eden Local Board.

Vanessa Crofskey: Sports Day, April 4, 12-4.30pm, Olympic Park, New Lynn Vanessa Crofskey will bring you a creative interpretation of the ubiquitous summer athletics festival. Sports Day is a fun day of championship games, all to do with walking. It upends the traditional speed and skill based games and rewards the skills acquired in day-to-day living. Whether you’re exceptionally good at remembering where you parked your car, carrying groceries, or ambling along to a podcast, Sports

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The Upstairs Gallery, in collaboration with The Fringe, is organising a children’s art competition with one lucky entrant having their artwork featured on the magazine’s cover.

With all the nasty viruses that are around we invite children from ages 3 to 14 to show their love with art! Get your paints, pens, pastels, pencils or electronic pens out and let your imagination run wild.

Draw us a picture that shows how you would make everyone in your family, school, or favourite art gallery aware, safe and healthy while the scientists get ready to zap the virus. The 10 finalists will be exhibited in the gallery with one design being chosen as the front cover for the July issue of The Fringe! Your design must be A4 size (210mm wide and 297mm high) and handed into the gallery no later than June 10. Please remember to tell us your name, age and school or kindergarten.

The Upstairs gallery is thrilled to have the support of The Fringe to make this competition possible. A children’s exhibition, Make a Face! will be on display in The Upstairs Gallery, April 1 – 19, 10am-4pm.

Covid-19 and the West

Concerning news about the Covid virus has come from overseas, first from China then elsewhere, more recently from France and Europe.

For most people infected the effects are not major: a sore throat and increased temperature. For some, however, particularly those with compromised systems and who are older, the effects can be deadly.

The problem with the disease is that it is capable of producing enough ill people that the hospital systems of some countries will be overwhelmed unless significant proactive steps are taken. Tracking the spread of the virus shows with alarming clarity what will occur. Each day in most affected nations the disease has infected 33% more people. China and Singapore have held infection rates at low levels. But Italy is struggling and America does not appear to know what is happening.

So far we have been lucky in New Zealand. At the time of writing there have been 28 reported infections, all sourced from overseas. But we cannot be complacent and it is almost inevitable that at some stage we will have a communitysourced spread of the virus.

The precautionary steps everyone can take have been well publicised. Minimise contact with others, particularly by hand shaking. And wash your hands thoroughly.

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Recently these precautionary measures have had their effect on local events. Pacifica was cancelled as was the memorial event for the Christchurch Mosque massacre and the Waitākere Holi Festival. The Piha World Surf League event and Titirangi’s own Festival of Music have both been postponed. All ANZAC Day events have also been cancelled

This will play havoc with the organisation of many other local events and the Local Board will have to help those who plan and organise public events to adjust and adapt. We will get through this but for a while we are going to be less social.

Please look after each other. Check your neighbours are OK. Remember to wash your hands and if you do feel ill then don’t go to work. If you think you have symptoms of the coronavirus (a fever, a cough or difficulty breathing) call the New Zealand Covid-19 Hotline on 0800 358 5453. And if you seek help then do so in such a way that is safe for doctors’ practices and medical professionals – phone ahead before visiting a medical clinic or emergency department – don’t just turn up.

Greg Presland | Local Board Co-chair Waitākere Ranges Local Board