Celebrating 'Spirit' at Kings Theatre Creative this Anzac

Celebrating 'Spirit' at Kings Theatre Creative this Anzac

A place to pause, reflect and breathe … An art exhibition to celebrate ‘Spirit’ this Anzac day – ‘Wairua – mana tangata, mana whenua’ now showing at Kings Theatre Creative, Kawakawa. Running through to May 22, the large group show celebrating the power of the people and the power of the land.

With over 125 works from 50 local and Tai Tokerau artists there is just so much to explore in this exhibition. Highlights include woven kelp from Kawakawa artists Caroline Lye, woven copper and harakeke from Kerikeri Artist Ann Winship and Hokinaga based Jess Parone, Feather stars from Alicia Courtney, a multi-sensory Shell Pathway installation from Karena Way, expert Whakairo from Te Kuiti Stewart, Life Masks from Theresa Reihana, and clay work from Dorothy Waetford, Davina Duke, and Julie Cromwell. We are also showcasing some incredible abstract artists Piripi Ball, Hugh Major, Philip John England and David Knight.

Gallery owner Lau’rell Pratt said discussions had started early in the year with the show co-curator Piripi Ball. Piripi who describes himself as an ‘abstract lyrical artist’ had discussed ideas for an exhibition at the theatre and we wanted to build in Piripi’s unique perspective that he calls the ‘other worldliness of places’ into the experience. ‘Wairua’ is deeply spiritual in nature and we thought that this April with Easter and the 100 years of Anzac commemorations, it may encourage and allow our visitors to reflect on both their own personal journeys and those of our nations,’ says Ms Pratt.

‘Piripi and I invited other artists to express what ‘Wairua’ meant for them and contribute work that connects beyond the now, remembering our ancestors, our faith, those who have served us, and those who we serve,’ says Ms Pratt.

‘The show is a recognition of the other worldliness of places and that we are all connected, no one just arrives, we are all part of the spirit and connected to something bigger, whether people see that is our history, our tupuna (ancestors), our faith, or from a deeper Maori perspective as mana atua, or sacred spiritual power.

The space and height of the theatre building gives the show and visitors a chance to ‘breathe’ and we have had many visitors staying a long time in the silence just absorbing the work, the feeling, the ‘wairua’. I’ve also made a couple of large batches of Anzac biscuits and we simply offer our manuhiri (guests) a cup of tea and chance to ‘be’.

‘Wairua’ sees the third successful exhibition line up at Kings Theatre Creative in Kawakawa. The gallery opened late December in the historic Kings Theatre that closed as a cinema in 1976, forty years since it opened in 1936. Kings Theatre Creative invite artists, patrons and Northland to visit and join in the theatre vision.

Gallery Open Thursday-Sunday, 10:30am – 4:30pm. Late night Friday till 6pm. Anzac Day 25th April open 1-4pm, and Open Monday 27 Anzac Day Observed.

Kings Theatre Creative, 80 Gillies St, Kawakawa, www.facebook.com/kingstheatrecreative

ENDS

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