Great to listen to this Radio New Zealand National interview with Lyn Riesterer and Barbara Dempsey from Opotiki district council, artist Te Mete and Echo Janman from Studio One Toi Tu.
Opotiki District Council Planning Manager Barbara Dempsey, artist Te Mete and councillor Lyn Riesterer. Photo: RNZ / Jo O'Brien
They discuss our "Real Opotiki" exhibition, launching this coming week, and how we're going to showcase amazing creative talent from over 20 Opotiki artists to city slickers in Ponsonby.
Riesterer, Te Mete and Janman all agree that Opotiki is often portrayed negatively in the media and this is a chance to show Opotiki in a different light.
Te Mete who has helped to organise the exhibition, says he was compelled to paint the people of Opotiki when he moved to the town after living in Auckland and Tauranga for many years. He found there to be a great deal of heart:
"A lot of people don't have a lot of money here, but they have a lot of love."
The contemporary painter says he's fortunate to be able to use his talent to capture them.
A commission from sales will help raise money to build a new town library and community centre - something that will bring the people of Opotiki together.
Janman on behalf of the venue Toi Tu says she is pleased about "this opportunity to support creativity." And councillor Dempsey said "local artists have been fantastically supportive of the initiative."
Exhibition Launch: 6:30pm Tuesday 26th July 2016. Please RSVP to Sofia Minson if attending the launch (this is for catering purposes)
Location: Studio One Toi Tu, 1 Ponsonby Rd, Auckland.
Dates: Wednesday 27 July - 18 August exhibition is open to the public
Opening Hours: Mon – Thurs 9am – 7pm. Fri 9am – 5pm. Sat 9am – 4pm.
Posted by artist Sofia Minson from NewZealandArtwork.com
New Zealand Maori portrait and landscape oil painting
