Talking Earth | in our spring garden | the essential of being a nativeThree new exhibitions opening at Homestead Galleries this May

About Talking Earth by Rebecca Steedman

Talking Earth presents of a collection of pottery by Rebecca Steedman, incorporating locally sourced materials, primarily of volcanic origin. Intentionally embracing irregularities that mirror the natural environment, Rebecca prompts reflection on the relationship between the landscape and contemporary dinnerware. Each piece of pottery is inspired by a local place, forming a cohesive series that encompasses various locations across West Tāmaki Makaurau, including Karekare, Piha and Titirangi.

Inspired by her recent visit to Te Toi Uku and childhood memories associated with Crown Lynn dinnerware, the exhibition serves as a journey exploring the connections between the plates and bowls we use, the company we share meals with, and the environments we choose for dining experiences.

About in our spring garden by Samson Dell

in our spring garden explores the complexities of photographing queer gendered experiences outside of binary frameworks. Image based artist Samson Dell reflects on the challenges of capturing the fluidity of their collaborators’ identities in static images. Emphasising the constant state of transition and renegotiation, the focus shifts to community, relationships, and self-identity within a queer context. This exhibition celebrates the rhythm of queer communities, navigating visibility and invisibility, and preserving the ebb and flow amidst changing external perspectives on queerness.These new works were birthed from a self-published photobook of the same name, created as a part of Samson’s Honours research at Massey University.

in our spring garden is a part of Auckland Festival of Photography.

About the essentials of being a native by Matt Tini

In the exploration of colonial influences on the representation of Indigenous peoples, Matt Tini scrutinises the colonial gaze directed at Tangata Whenua through a series of photography and moving image works. By reclaiming and disrupting the visual codes that have homogenised and essentialised Indigenous identities, Matt challenges the limiting paradigms upheld by both colonisers and the colonised.

By reclaiming stereotypes such as the native at one with nature and relic of a dying race, and displacing others like the dusky maiden and female nude, Matt challenges viewers' perceptions of the Indigenous body, identity, and experience from a deeply personal perspective while offering paths for others to connect. Unserious yet earnest, the essentials of being a native manipulates the visual language of colonisers, engaging with colonial fantasies while breaking them open.

ABOUT CORBAN ESTATE ARTS CENTRE:

Set within beautiful park-like grounds in the heart of Henderson, Waitākere, the Corban Estate Arts Centre is one of Aotearoa’s largest thriving arts centres based on historic grounds of the former Corbans Winery.

Home to over twenty Artist studios and renowned Arts Organisations; a unique collection of venues for hire; a Gallery Shop and popular Coffee Studio Café, the Homestead Galleries are situated in the original Corban Homestead, which celebrated its 100th Anniversary this past year.

Offering regular arts workshops for adults, youth and children, as well as a highly regarded Schools’ Art Education programme, Corban Estate Arts Centre is a haven for local community to enjoy the enriching combination of arts, culture and heritage, whilst serving as kaitiaki for one of Tāmaki Makaurau’s significant historical legacies.

The Homestead Galleries and Gallery Shop are open Monday to Saturday from 10am-4pm (closed on public holidays).

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ABOUT TE TOI UKU:

Te Toi Uku is a museum located in Ambrico Place, New Lynn, Auckland on the old Gardner Brothers & Parker brickworks site and next to their original brick kiln. The Museum opened in 2015 and holds a collection of about 6000 objects as well as an archive which includes photographs and designs. The collection mostly relates to Crown Lynn, but also the early brick and pipe industries of West Auckland.

Te Toi Uku’s vision is to engage the public in the discovery, appreciation and understanding of ceramics, including Crown Lynn, and the part they played in the local community of New Lynn and throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.

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ABOUT THE HANDLERS AT TE POU THEATRE:

The Handlers written by Māori/Afro-Caribbean playwright Poata Alvie McKree and directed by Amber Curreen, is about a whānau of wahine working at the Crown Lynn factory in West Auckland. They risk the threat of being fired after they all take time off to attend a tangihanga, forcing the production line to come to a halt. The Handlers is a fictionalised account of Māori women’s experiences working in factories like Crown Lynn in the 70s.

Written by Poata Alvie McKree (Ngāti Kahu, Ngāpuhi ki Whangaroa, Yurumein, Barbados), The Handlers was previously developed by Black Creatives Aotearoa, an organisation dedicated to supporting creatives of African and Afro-Caribbean heritage living in New Zealand, and was further workshopped through Te Pou Theatre’s development of Māori playwrights at the Koanga Festival in 2022. This production is presented by Te Pou Theatre, in partnership with Te Rēhia Theatre.

Directed by Amber Curreen, The Handlers stars Aroha Rawson, Cian Parker, Nastassia Wolfgramm, Neill Rea and Tuakoi Ohia. The Handlers is showing at Te Pou Theatre from Thursday 16 May to Sunday 2 June 2024.

GALLERY PROGRAMME DETAILS:

Opening Preview EventFriday 3 May 2024, 6:00pm – 8:00pm Free, all welcome.Location: Homestead Galleries, Corban Estate Arts Centre.Produced with support from Henderson-Massey Local Board, The Trusts and Hakanoa Handmade.

-Artist kōreroSat 4 May 2024 11:00AM - 12:00PMFree, all welcome. Location: Homestead Galleries, Corban Estate Arts Centre.

Join us for an engaging conversation between artists, Samson Dell and Matt Tini, as well as Pōneke based photographic artist Belinda Whitta, as they speak to the themes explored in their respective exhibitions, in our spring garden and the essentials of being a native.

This discussion offers a valuable insight into how photography serves as a conduit for exploring the themes within their respective exhibitions.

-Crown Lynn ConnectionsSaturday 22 May 2024, 10:00am – 4:00pm$25 - $55 Location: Homestead Galleries, Corban Estate Arts Centre.

An immersive tour of three distinct West Auckland sites, each simultaneously sharing unique reflections on the history of Crown Lynn pottery. Starting with a guided tour of Te Toi Uki Crown Lynn & Clayworks Museum; followed by an artist’s tour of Rebecca Steedman’s exhibition Talking Earth; and finishing with the matinee performance of The Handlers at Te Pou Theatre.

-Curator ToursMonday 27 May and Monday 10 June 2024, 10:00am – 11:00amKoha-entry, all welcome. Location: Homestead Galleries, Corban Estate Arts Centre.

Join Homestead Galleries Curator & Exhibitions Manager Melina for an intimate tour of our current exhibitions.

These tours promise an enriching experience for art enthusiasts and those seeking a deeper connection to the works and the talented artists behind their creations.

-Connecting through wānangaSat 22 Jun 2024 2:00PM - 4:00PMFree. Tangata Whenua dedicated. Bookings essentialLocation: Homestead Galleries, Corban Estate Arts Centre. Tangata Whenua are welcomed to participate in a wānanga coinciding with Matt Tini’s exhibition, the essentials of being a native, an exhibition which manipulates the visual language of colonisers, engaging with colonial fantasies while breaking them open.

This gathering provides an opportunity for attendees to meet kanohi ki te kanohi to engage in meaningful discussion about the daily challenges they face and collectively articulate their aspirations for the future.

From Ruby Media Global