ONEWHEROWHERO Exhibition
Students from Kelston Intermediate explore connection to whenua and rangatiratanga through making with uku (clay), a medium with a long history of use in the Kelston area. In this collaborative exhibition, they present a collection of hand-coiled kaitiaki forms, and sculpted pūtangitangi (flute) instruments.
This project has been supported by leading ceramic artist Carla Ruka through the Ministry of Education’s Creatives in Schools programme.
Te Uru Art Gallery, Titirangi -1 October 2022 – February 2023
Creatives in Schools
Onewherowhero project
Starting with an introductory artist talk, Carla shared her art life with the students of Kelson Intermediate and spoke about the Māori Clay artist Collective Ngā Kaihanga Uku. Each class was able to have a 2 part lesson in creating Pūtangitangi (small flutes) and discovering the whakapapa of clay.
Hineukurangi, Papatuanuku and Tane Mahuta creating the first woman, Hineahuone. Students learned about the clay, colorants, slips and the history of clay in the Onewherowhero area.
Students were able to see and touch a real life sculpture and have a Q & A session with Carla discovering all kinds of art secrets.
24 students who showed an engagement with clay were selected from the school and had further classes in sculpture building.
Learning about coiling techniques, design and concepts, students listened to the stories of Te Kawerau a Maki and the Taiao finding their kaitiaki and inspirations for their concepts. Students had a trip to the Te Uru Gallery and learned about curation and roles within a gallery.
Students who showed engagement in the curation area were selected as a curation team and set up an exhibition of the art works made by students on installation day alongside Carla Ruka.
Students and the local community were able to host an opening for the exhibition, karakia and waiata blessing the space.
2022