Full houses continue for Hamilton’s Spark Festival

Full houses continue for Hamilton’s Spark Festival

Released Wed 5th August

Organisers are pleased with the great response to Spark festival this year, with every session to date drawing a full audience. On Tuesday Spark welcomed presenters Paul Seawright, Denise L’Estrange-Corbet and Carly Flynn, each offering an insight into their arts practice and career paths, and Wednesday has also been successful, featuring Guto Barra and Beco Dranoff and John Pule. Pictures from Day 2 of Spark can be seen in the Spark Gallery, and day 3 pictures will be up soon.

Spark organiser Susanna Wilford said that while the crowds are gratifying, she has also been enjoying Spark on a personal level. “Every presentation has touched on something in my own history and culture, having quite a profound effect on me and igniting something I’m not generally in touch with.” The responsiveness of the public attending has also been a huge bonus: “I love how engaged our audiences are, asking researched, intelligent questions and really actively participating – down to delightful whoops of joy during the Beyond Ipanema screening!”

Documentary filmmaker Marina Goldavskaya commented on this also after her Monday presentation, saying that the Hamilton audiences had been particularly personable and insightful with their questioning and feedback.

Day 2 of Spark also featured the opening of the exhibition ‘When I Lived Alone’, a collaborative painting and sculpture show presented by current Media Arts students. Attendees enjoyed the opportunity to see a range of new student work on show and sample the many cupcakes.

On Tuesday evening, Spark presented the New Zealand premiere of Brazilian music documentary ‘Beyond Ipanema’. Despite the rain, the Hamilton crowds came out to see this dynamic film and applaud the visiting filmmakers. “Very interesting – I need to go and buy some music!” said one student. The filmmakers, Guto Barra and Beco Dranoff, appeared on TV3’s Sunrise in the morning – click here to see the segment online – and then appeared in a popular Q+A forum on Wednesday morning to answer the many questions from people who enjoyed the film.

“Highlight for me was the Q+A with Guto Barra and Beco Dranoff this morning” said Spark assistant Marianne. Student Wiki agreed: “I loved Guto and Barra’s talk, and found it inspiring.” Wiki also loved fashion designer Denise L’Estrange’s presentation on Tuesday morning. “I like the fact that she was really direct and honest, and has done the hard yards in the industry. That gave me hope.”

Others found it more difficult to pick their favourite Spark session. “The highlight has been….everything!” said student Brenda Kidd. “It’s of such outstanding quality that it’s hard to pick from the broad spectrum of media representatives of this caliber.”

Coming up at Spark:

Wednesday:

• 5.30pm – Viva exhibition opening at La Mezz.

• 8pm - Whero’s New Net

Thursday:

• 9am – graphic designer Sara De Bondt.

• 11am – Helen Baxter (digital media)

• 12.30 – Director/actor forum with Sam Scott, Wes Dowdall & Waimihi Hotere

• 3pm - Aaron Styles fashion workshop (W block)

• 5.30pm – Wintec Graduate Forum featuring Sandra Mu, Aaron Styles & Michelle Savill

• Pecha Kucha night #5

Friday

• 9am – band The Singsongs

• 11am – artist Nicky Deeley

• 12.30 – interior designer Vee Smit

• 2pm – Sara De Bondt workshop R Block (full)

• 2pm – Aspire TV show

• 4.30pm – Closing exhibition featuring Nicky Deeley

• 7.30pm – 7:8:9 Spark After Party (entry with your Spark card)

See this article online at http://www.spark.net.nz/?p=959

ENDS

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