Mar 29, 2022 Arts
Hey,
So according to the experts, we, the city of Auckland, are over our Covid peak. And I gotta say it is a huge relief seeing the numbers go down – although it’s pretty surreal that just under two thousand cases for a single city is starting to look like a positive thing. All of this meant that we saw restrictions ease last week which were met with mixed reactions (on my timeline anyway).
I absolutely understand the mixed reactions, however I do also feel pretty optimistic seeing more live events happening across the city (see this week’s reconnaissance). Being ‘the media’ means that I am lucky enough to be privy to artists and organisations annual calendars and I am feeling pretty amped about some of the conversations I had last week. Huge fingers crossed that the rest of the year is a million times better for creatives then the first two months.
It was fantastic to see The Basement announce their new space, The Slab, a beer garden that will host live events from April and hopefully make the Covid-conscious feel safe. It’s a win, win. I’m hopeful to see what other creative solutions we may see popping up that help us feel safe, but also let us see things irl.
Do you have a show, event or release coming up that you want to list in Metro Arts? Let me know lana@metromagazine.co.nz.
— Lana
Reckons
I saw more shows last week then I have a really long time – like a gallery a day kind of vibe. And I reckon you should get out and about too, I’m pretty sure looking at art is good for your brain or something.
Recommendations
On Friday night I chaired a conversation between artists and legends Linda Munn and Dianne Jones as part of the epic Te Tiriti-based futures + Anti-racism programme. I was worried about how the talk would go down being that everyone was giving up their Friday night, but I left feeling so inspired by their kōrero and the way they talked about their work so openly. To be completely honest I was really an unnecessary chair but I loved having a front row seat to their chat and their truth bombs. To keep the energy of that session alive I recommend going to see Munn’s work which is on show now in the exhibition Wahine Māori: The Art of Resistance at NorthArt.
I headed out to Te Uru over the weekend and forgot how beautiful of a building it is. The gallery is currently hosting a wide range of exhibitions which work together in a perfect symphony. I would highly recommend spending the morning out there and stopping in next door to Deco for a coffee. Make sure you check out the dreamy exhibition design in Notes for Tomorrow by Sam Aislabie.
I recommend heading to Dirty Passports: Outdoor Edition at Basement Theatre. For only $5 Dirty Passports is a celebration of Aotearoa’s finest BIPOC storytellers and spoken word artists curated by the 2020 National Slam Champion Nathan Joe. Line up includes Samuel Te Kani, Takunda Muzondiwa, Gemishka Chetty, Aiwa Pooamorn, Shania Pablo and Eric Soakai. And for those who have missed their comedy fix this year, Basement is holding a comedy show Doing the Most, the night before. Why not make a double night of it?
Noelle McCarthy’s hotly-anticipated memoir is out TODAY! I have been waiting to get my hands on this for so long and will be sitting down with this during the week, and you should, too, so we can chat about it. Keep an eye out for a reckon in a future Metro Arts.
If you prefer listening to your content rather than reading it I recommend this audio recording of Jade Townsend’s profile on Neke Moa originally published in ISLAND Magazine issue 03; and also this new online sound work PŪ0R0 PL4Y by M4URI M4STA.
Reconnaissance
Coming up this week:
Grand: Becoming my mother’s daughter by Noelle McCarthy out today!
Declaration: a Pacific Feminist Agenda featuring Jasmine Togo-Brisby; Marti Friedlander; Jessicoco Hansell (Coco Solid); Taloi Havini; Lonnie Hutchinson; Ioane Ioane; Sione Monū; Suzanne Tamaki; Latai Taumoepeau; Molly Rangiwai-McHale & Luisa Tora; Kalisolaite ’Uhila
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
26 Mar — 31 Jul
Anna Crichton Artist talk – Mother India, Embroidered Tales
Railway St Studios
April 2, 1pm
Doing The Most — Comedy Show
Basement Theatre
April 1, 7pm
Dirty Passports: Outdoor Edition
Basement Theatre
April 2, 7pm
New season of shows at Studio One Toi Tū featuring Linda Vaʻaelua, Wai-O-Rongo, Sur Collective, Judith Milner, Ana Travaglio
Opening, April 6
Mousey ‘My Friends’ Release Tour
Turning Fork
April 8, doors open at 7.30pm
Shifted Ground
Titirangi Theatre, Lopdell Precinct
April 9
