ARTS + CULTURE
Ans Westra, ‘South Auckland’, 1984. Showing at {Suite} during Artweek. Image courtesy of {Suite}
Artweek’s ‘Open Late’ Gallery Tours Extend into Ponsonby Free guided tours of local galleries during Artweek Auckland will extend further into Ponsonby this year in recognition of its growing presence in the local art landscape. Artweek Auckland is an annual, week-long festival celebrating the visual arts of Tamaki Makaurau, running 10-18 October 2020. The gallery tours are hosted by artists and art professionals during ‘Open Late’ events in which select galleries keep their doors open until 8pm and encourage new audiences. The tours run from 6pm on Thursday 15 October and are bookable through Artweek’s website. In keeping with Artweek’s focus on inclusivity, all are welcome, and prior knowledge of art is not required. They run for 60-80 minutes across several galleries, with a short overview of the space and the current exhibition, and time for attendees to enjoy and ask questions.
gallery {Suite} on Ponsonby Road. {Suite} has an established gallery space in Wellington’s Cuba Street, and their expansion into Ponsonby is also a signal of things to come in the area. This year the gallery tours will include Objectspace, {Suite}, Scott Lawrie Gallery and other art and design spaces in Ponsonby, such as Studio One Toi Tu- and endemicworld. The tour programme is curated by artist, art writer, educator and consultant Emil McAvoy, who is excited to expand further into Ponsonby.
Visitors can also visit the participating galleries independently, and are encouraged to make a night of it – inviting a friend or a date, for a drink and a bite in the neighbourhood, or to perhaps meet others interested in art.
“We are fortunate to have partnered with the Ponsonby Business Association to grow the gallery tour programme this year, building on the generous foundation of support provided by the Karangahape Road Business Association and Artweek. As part of this expansion we have been able to include more participating art spaces and add to the pool of talented tour guides.
The ‘Open Late’ tours have formerly focussed on the region around Karangahape Road where there is a high concentration of galleries and other art spaces. However, recent years have seen the increasing prominence of Objectspace, new artist run spaces in Ponsonby/Grey Lynn, and earlier this year, the launch of dealer
Ponsonby is, of course, a centre for art, design, creativity and culture,” Emil says. “It’s pleasing to reflect that contribution further – we have a number of experienced, informed and engaging guides, and it’s rewarding that the tours can remain free and accessible to a growing public,” adds Emil. PN
Bookings for the Open Late tours, alongside other tours during the festival, can be made through Artweek Auckland’s website: www.artweek.co.nz 1. {Suite}, gallery exterior, Ponsonby. Image: Courtesy of {Suite}; 2. Objectspace exterior; 3. Emil McAvoy, Open Late Tour Programme Curator & Guide. Image: Courtesy of Elise Manahan/University of Auckland; 4. Julia Craig, Tour Guide; 5. Ashleigh Taupaki, Tour Guide; 6. Zoe Black, Tour Guide
94 PONSONBY NEWS+ September 2020
PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)
