Square Eyes: short films + video art

An evening showcasing Pacific stories, talent and wannabe Peter Jacksons, Square Eyes also features video works by recent graduates and current students of Manukau Institute of Technology.

Organiser Leilani Kake says, “when I was young my mum used to say ‘You’ll get square eyes watching too much TV’… come and watch as much as you want and enjoy a night of fresh film, video art and popcorn.”

Highlights of Square Eyes include South Auckland film maker Tanu Gago’s You Love My Fresh and Samoa-based film maker Dionne Fonoti’s Young, Gifted and Samoan.

Square Eyes is presented by Leilani Kake for the Faculty of Creative Arts, Manukau Institute of Technology.

Pacific Dance Residency LAUNCH!

The 2011 South Auckland Pacific Arts Summit will host the launch of the second Pacific Dance Artist Residency, an exciting initiative of Pacific Dance New Zealand!

In 2010, Justin Haiu was selected as the inaugural Manukau Pacific Dance Artist in Residence. Working with the youth within the Manukau community for 8 weeks, Justin presented ‘ID-me’ at the Mangere Arts Centre – Ngā Tohu o Uenuku, which explored youth identity as Pacific Islanders living and growing-up in Aotearoa.

Justin says about his experience, “I attained more knowledge and insight from the different roles that bring modern Theatre together. Being in a position where I was able to try out and expand on some of the creative thoughts brought about. It was a good experience to work from scratch and see how the whole process would come together.”

The inaugural eight week long Manukau Pacific Dance Artist in Residence was also listed as a ‘significant dance event’ by Dance Aotearoa New Zealand (DANZ) critic’s survey 2010.

Pacific Dance New Zealand in partnership with Auckland Council, DANZ and supported by Creative New Zealand, is now inviting submissions for the Auckland-based ‘Pacific Dance Artist in Residence 2011.’

This exciting new dance residency is offered to an established New Zealand based dancer, dance choreographer or a director of Pacific Island descent with a proven track record of working in a community and or professional theatre context.

The residency will be carried out in South Auckland for 8 weeks starting 4^th June 2011.

The successful applicant will be given the opportunity to create a dance work with participants from the community culminating in a public showing at the Metro Theatre (Mangere East Hall) on the 31^st July.

Applications close Friday 29^th April, 3.00pm.

For more details about the Pacific Dance Artist in Residence, please click on the following link http://www.pacificdance.co.nz/residency_2011.php

For enquires, you can contact us on (09) 3700487 or email auckland@pacificdance.co.nz

Meet the new Artist in Residence and learn more about Pacific Dance New Zealand at the Official Launch celebrations!

When: Saturday 4 June
Time: 1-4pm
Where: Metro Theatre, 362 Massey Road, Mangere East

All welcome!

Dionne Fonoti speaks at the Summit!

Following on the success of the inaugural Curating Pacific Art Forum in 2010, this year brings a new Forum with a focus on representation, collaboration and interdisciplinary dialogue.

Facilitating dialogue between curators, academics, artists and commentators about Pacific art, the event provides a platform for discussion about curatorial practice, research and community engagement.

Keynote speaker Dionne Fonoti is an anthropologist, film-maker and lecturer at the National University of Samoa. Her paper on racism, representation and indigenous consciousness in Pacific film introduces an interdisciplinary consideration of audience and the crafting of Pacific stories.

The forum is being held at AUT University’s new Manukau campus, which has a strong Pasifika vision. The campus offers courses tailored to meet the needs and interests of local Pacific students and the wider institution offers arts qualifications including undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Art and Design and Arts Management.

When: Saturday 21 May
Time: 10am – 5pm
Where: AUT Manukau Campus, 640 Great South Road, Manukau City

Registration essential! Contact Nicole Lim on 09 271 6019 / Nicole.Lim@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz