20th Anniversary REVIEW: We know this amazing tufuga. Malo Riki Manuel. In 2000 Maria Godinet Watts supported his prestigious Moko / Tatau Symposium that was held in 2001 (that had master ta moko / tatau artists from all over the Pacific). Maria invited us to host a Pacific performing arts component for the symposium. So by 2001 thanks to Maria and Rhonda Thompson, during the symposium, we held TASI-PACIFIC ARTS our first annual Pacific Arts Festival of Christchurch - one day of uniting Christchurch Pasifika performers, artists as one people. We didnt meet Riki at his Symposium though, and like us his office and base Te Toi Mana Maori Art Gallery was at the Arts Centre. It wasnt until we travelled to Palau for the 9th Pacific Arts Festival in 2004 that we actually had a conversation and then hung out. We laughed about it, being neighbours but not being connected, so then by 2005 again through our mutual and much loved supporter Maria Godinet Watts we were on our 5th festival and Riki and Viv hosted Suluape Tatau - Marks of Polynesia Peter Suluape Petelo in their gallery where he offered traditional Samoa tatau. The gallery also hosted many Visual Arts exhibitions curated by Faamuina Maria. Just after the 2011 earthquake, we were at Auckland Airport travelling to CHCH. Riki, Viv and family hadnt been home yet to see the damage, and were unsure of things (side note funny memory of meeting them that day - Riki and Tanya happened to be wearing the same tshirt - a design of his - SNAP!). We wished them luck as we departed ways at CHCH Airport. In the end it was good news for the Manuel family, their family home having extensive damage and our leases terminated at the Arts Centre. Theyve since set up shop at their home. We saw Riki early morning Labour Weekend last year for UNDER THE FALE. He was storing art pieces under his house from a project he created of local Maori and Pasifika artists constructing sculptures out of recycled earthquake rubbish. He loaned us two large pieces of Raphael Stowers and Fatu Feuu / Stone Maka that we had on display at our site in FESTA. Check his page this guy is a master ta moko artist / sculptor / painter and general awesome tuhunga. Malo lava Riki and Viv Manuel and family. xx
Posted on: Fri, 22 Aug 2014 21:11:46 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015