Mar 1, 2022 Art
Kia ora,
I am writing freshly from the otherside of isolation, and it’s been a roller coaster of a ride — waiting for test results, family testing positive, all while trying to keep up with work and making an eight year old’s birthday feel special.
While we may feel frustrated by it and make jokes to help get through, the past week came with a stark reminder of the ‘rona worst case scenario, as I lost my great-grandma to covid during the week. It hits different when that “one death” reported in the daily numbers is actually one of your own. And you can’t be with your family because you yourself are isolating.
Once upon a time having five events cancelled in a single email felt like a thing to worry about, now it feels pretty small fry in the scheme of where we are. I write this not to minimise the incredibly important work we do in the arts or scaremonger or to overstate the obvious, but because it’s hard to think past it right now. And because patience wanes when things are no longer hypothetical.
We all want to get out there and support the amazing artists who make up our creative communities but I do wonder how responsible is it really? How do we support artists and keep safe simultaneously? Keeping safe for some of yall, might mean watching what’s happening through Instagram for the next little while, and hey, I support that.*
For Metro Arts I’m going to try to balance things you can enjoy in the world and those you can enjoy in bed because I’m right there with you and boundaries are healthy.
If you want to share some cool things you’ve come across recently or that you have coming up, I’d love to hear from you.
Flick me an email at lana@metromagazine.co.nz
Be safe, be kind.
— Lana
Reckons
* see above (it’s been rough)
Recommendations
Last week comedian Pax Assadi’s six part sitcom Raised by Refugees was released and it is such a breath of fresh air. In three words: funny, heartbreaking and (long) overdue. I actually spoke to Assadi about the show for a piece coming out in the next issue of Metro, so keep an eye out!
I was lucky enough to visit artist Cora-Allan Wickliffe during her McCahon House residency and see the over 100 artworks she made from pigments collected at the beach. Over the weekend an exhibition of residency works opened at Te Uru. Another show that also opened over the weekend was a new installation by Yona Lee at Auckland Art Gallery called An Arrangement for 5 Rooms, both shows worth checking out.
There are still a wealth of projects raising money for Tonga after the devastating impacts on the volcanic eruption at the start of this year. While the internet connection has just been restored there is still much work to be done. Yesterday Tautai launched a special edition series of poster prints by an amazing group of artists available on their website. Another fundraising effort to keep an eye on is Project Ofa an online concert presented by Pulotu Underworld including Swiss, Noah Slee, SWIDT, JessB, Rubi Du, Hollie Smith, Lady Shaka, Disciple Pati, Kwest, Samara, JP, IAC Music, with more to be announced. Not too mention the two final clouds by Sione Monu raising money for the Tonga Leitī Association (TLA) to assist their queer and transgender members affected by the recent volcano eruption.
Because I’ve mostly been inside and reading, if you’re a lover of sad non-fiction & vivid food descriptions then I recommend Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner. And because I support the magazine trade (and so should you) Megan Dunn’s profile of Lorde in the brand new issue of Viva is gold star.
Reconnaissance
Coming up this week in Tāmaki
Everything is going to be alright,
new single by Princess Chelsea
Noʻonoʻo a lei installation by Jaq Brown
Moana Fresh, Fri 25 Feb — Fri 1 April
Toi Onehunga a pop up gallery in Onehunga
curated Isaac Trebilco
204 Onehunga Mall, Wed 2 March — Sun 27 March
Mark Work with work by Raukura Turei, Julian Hooper & Krystina Kaza, Areta Wilkinson, Warwick Freeman, Hannah Beehre
Objectspace, Sat 5 March — Sun 15 May
Project Banaba curated by Katerina Teaiwa
Te Uru, Sat 5 March — Sun 29 May
Opening something? – send details here
