Elements Boast NZ Order Of Merit Artist

News Release
13 January 2009

Elements Boast NZ Order Of Merit Artist!

Michel Tuffery – internationally acclaimed Wellington based artist and recipient of a New Zealand Order of Merit 2008 is the judge for the annual Recycled Competition at the Festival of the Elements this Waitangi Day, at Te Rauparaha Park.

Michel is renowned as a sculptor and printmaker. His zeal for his Polynesian heritage is reflected in his creative investigation of the relationship between traditional Pacific way of life and cultural changes through globalisation. A popular example is Pisupo Lua Afe (a bull made from corned beef tins on display at a number of institutions including Te Papa and Pataka), which parodies the way imported food items have become a way of traditional island life.

The co-ordinator of the Recycled Sculpture Competition, Pearl Freemantle, says “It is simply fantastic that Michel is judging the contest for us. He is no stranger to working with re-cycled materials!”

Pearl says that only a few spots remain for competitors. For queries regarding last minute placement in the competition please phone 236 7941.

For more information about the Festival of the Elements 2009 check out the website www.elementsfestival.org.nz.

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