The Pacific Showcase Opens This Saturday

The Pacific Showcase Opens This Saturday

Multi Olympic and world discus champion Valerie Adams is the special guest when the Pacific Showcase returns to The Cloud on Saturday February 2.

Adams, of Tongan descent, will be at the opening ceremony commencing along with the Honourable Murray McCully, Minister of Foreign Affairs, at 11am at The Cloud on Auckland’s waterfront.

In September 2012 Adams packed out the Cloud, when 2500 special guests and fans saw her receive her Olympic gold medal from the 2012 London Games. Adams is a record six-time winner of the Halberg Sportswoman of the Year, three-time Supreme Halberg winner and the reigning Pacific Island Sportsperson of the Year.

The Pacific Showcase returns bigger, brighter and bolder and follows the success of the inaugural event in September 2011, which drew more than 38,000 visitors over three days prior to the Rugby World Cup. This time around, the stage is set for five days during February and March of what is special about the Pacific.

The opening tomorrow offers a cultural extravaganza that will bring together all the best that the Pacific has to offer, from cuisine, fashion and jewelry to art, live performance and music.

Music and performance is the focus of the first weekend – a fusion of sights and sounds from the internationally renowned Tatau Dance group, which draws from traditional and contemporary Samoan culture, to the lush harmonies of the Mavaega Sisters, who will perform a range of old island favourites.

Acclaimed Auckland painter and artist in residence, Sylvia Marsters will be on location between 9.00am-1.00pm. Marsters who is of Cook Island descent, established a name for herself in the art world with a series of deep blue canvases depicting whales and marlin. Other demonstrations will include traditional weaving, drumming and Tatau (tattoo) by international inker Corey Weir. Weir’s tattoo designs infuse Japanese, Polynesian, Haida and Maori influences.

Also be among the first in New Zealand to witness the latest project from the much talked about community arts-based initiative The Roots. Students will work under the guidance of creative entrepreneur Martin Leung-Wai to design and construct a number of structures on site at The Cloud, using only natural materials. The installation will take shape over three consecutive Saturdays with inspiration derived from each weekend’s particular theme.

Full details are available on the website - www.pacificshowcase.co.nz

8:00am – 5:00pm Saturday 2nd, 9th & 16th February
8:00am – 5:00pm Saturday 2nd & 9th March

ENDS

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