Ōtara Cube reopens with local artist’s work
Ōtara Cube reopens with local artist’s work
The Ōtara Cube is again up and running at the busy Ōtara Bus Interchange, with the first exhibition featuring a moving image work called Ha’amonga, an endurance piece, by local artist Sione Faletau.
The Ōtara Cube is a three metre shipping container originally retrofitted and installed in 2013 as a temporary public exhibition space by Manukau Institute of Technology, with funding support from the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board.
The temporary gallery was only meant to be in place until 30 October 2014 but the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board has provided funding to keep it on site until 2018. The board’s funding includes $2,000 for a permanent resource consent that has been granted, $4,000 programme funding through to June this year, and then $7,600 a year for programming and maintenance until 2018.
The board’s Arts spokesperson, Donna Lee, says this is part of their plan to support initiatives that help integrate arts and culture into the everyday lives of locals.
“The Ōtara Cube is a great way to promote and cultivate artistic expression and talent here in Ōtara,” says Ms Lee.
“It’s a unique and very accessible space for visual arts with an outstanding line-up of exhibitions ahead - all of this nestled amongst the hustle and bustle of the Ōtara Town Centre.
“We’ve happy to see a diverse and locally inspired programme of exhibitions and it’s great to be kicking off Otara Cube’s new season Sione Faletau’s Ha’amonga exhibition.”
The opening exhibition is local Sione Faletau’s contemporary art work, Ha'amonga, which runs until the 23 April. Guest curator, Ange Tonga says the piece is based on Tongan mythology and varying historical accounts of the Ha’amonga 'a Maui, a stone trilithon located in Tongatapu, Tonga.
“The Ōtara Cube is embedded in the heart of the town centre and allows the local community to experience art by moving it outside of the usual gallery setting. This type of accessibility and outreach is unique, and I’m glad to be part of it. Working with artists like Sione Faletau showcases the diverse art practices emerging out of South Auckland,” Ms Tonga says.
ENDS