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ARATOI VOICES Kotahitanga – Coming together

Extra

Aratoi is the venue for Kotahitanga – Coming together (Sep 12-Nov 15), a unique art exhibition and fundraiser that showcases our region’s talent in a variety of media, ranging from watercolour, print and painting to ceramics and fibre.

Represented are artists from several groups such as Wai Art, ConArt, Heart of Arts, No 23 Gallery, King Street Artworks, Wairarapa Camera Club, Kotare Art, The Miracle Room, The Watson Gallery and many more.

Aratoi director Susanna Shadbolt explains the concept: “Kotahitanga is an exhibition to stand together in unity as Wairarapa’s artistic community after the impact of covid-19. It celebrates both Wairarapa arts and crafts and Aratoi being open to the public again. This is an extraordinary exhibition for extraordinary times. For Kim Siemonek Our team have been out in the community with Seasons for Growth seminar with social services groups and St Mark’s Church in Carterton.

We have a course coming up that will help you through the process of personal grief and loss by exploring the Seasons of Grief – a small peer support programme for adults who have experienced grief or significant change or loss.

The programme offers an opportunity to examine how grief and loss have impacted on one’s life. It imparts knowledge, skills and attitudes to enable participants to understand and manage their grief

Linda Tilyard - Korero Mai Linocut - monoprint_crop 2.

the first time ever, groups are coming together, celebrating the power of unity and arts in our region.”

All items will be for sale on a cash and carry basis, with sold works being replaced throughout the duration of the show. At last count, there were already close to 400 art works registered with many more being processed.

Linda Tilyard is one of the artists involved. She is connected to several of the participating groups and has submitted paintings and prints. Her themes Exploring the Seasons of Grief provides opportunities for individual reflection and group discussion in groups of four to seven participants. Places are filling up so register to secure your place now.

The programme can be offered either as a series of eight sessions each of just over an hour, or four sessions each lasting two and a half hours.

It is anticipated that a programme will start on Monday, September 14, at 1pm in Carterton. This will be a series eight sessions, of just over an hour each and will run weekly until November 2, inclusive.

Courtesy of The Wairarapa Women’s Centre, there is no charge

Tim McMahon, Wairarapa Moana (2018). PHOTOS/SUPPLIED

include environmental issues, animals, pop art imagery and women. “During the first lockdown my palette became much brighter and had a more ‘retro’ style…still fluid and slightly surreal.

“Kotahitanga is a wonderful idea because it showcases a large and vibrant arts community Check and Chat Check and Chat is a project run by the Wairarapa Women’s Centre and funded by the Ministry for Women. It began in March 2020 as part of the covid-19 community response in Wairarapa as a way to care for our elderly and vulnerable members of community, and to ensure they had regular communication and the opportunity to make a new friend! We’re committed to ensuring the well-being of our community is cared for both during and after covid-19.

Check and Chat aims to connect a friendly caller with someone who needs support; such as the elderly, solo parents, families with children with special needs or health issues, those struggling with mental health, or here in Wairarapa. Aratoi has worked hard to be inclusive which is something I value very highly. Community is about inclusion and art is about voice. Together we have a stronger voice and any chance to appreciate this is healing.”

Greytown landscape

WAIRARAPA WOMEN’S CENTRE Seasons for growth The Wairarapa Women’s Centre has been working with how we can all cope with the changes to life with the pandemic.

experience.

for this programme.

photographer Tim

those living in isolation [rural or enforced].

We’re looking for volunteers who can give themselves, their kindness, and their time to Check and Chat with people in their community.

If you’d like to be involved in this project as a friendly caller, or you’d like to register as someone who wants some support, go to becollective.com please click “Join Group” and fill in an application form.

To find out more and to join also check out our Facebook page of Check and Chat for Connection – Wairarapa Women’s Centre. McMahon echoes Linda’s words. “This exhibition is a wonderful idea. We photographers are mixing with the other visual artists, something we don’t do often enough. We have so much to learn from the other arts.”

Sandra Wong, from Kotare Gallery is also supportive of Aratoi’s initiative: “The reason I decided to take part in this unique group show is to support local artists. Essentially, Wairarapa is one very big arts community that supports each other.” • Kotahitanga – Coming together is showing from September 12-November 15.

Opening: Friday,

September 11 at 5:30pm. Wairarapa

Mayors Lyn Patterson,

Greg Lang and Alex

Beijen will officially open the exhibition. Free admittance.

Radio name change Our radio show has changed from Inspiring Women to Inspirational Community and give the chance for the ethnic community to be heard and to show us how they are going through these unexpected times.

Our next show is September 14 on Arrow FM at 10am.

Our guest will be from the Pacifica Wairarapa Council Trust. Luther Taloa and Manisha Jobard will be talking about the benefits of the trust and how it’s helping their communities through the pandemic.

A HOME FOR A PET

Hi, I’m Sophie, a mixed-breed girl, about 10 months old. I’m a sweet girl who is looking for a home where I will get loads of time, exercise, training, and love. I am full of beans but very keen to learn. I‘m very agile, so my new home will need to have secure fencing to contain me. A family with doggy experience would be ideal. At this stage, I’m not suited to a home with small animals, stock or chickens, as I am a little too interested.

If you think you could give me a forever home, please drop by and talk to the team at the Masterton SPCA during their opening hours, or call them on 0800 467 732.