Bright colours from rising star at market
Thursday 6 October 2011, 8:30PM
By Olivia Lacey
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Bell Block local Maria Brockhill, who is one of the few contemporary Maori artists to use glazing in her works, has been invited to exhibit her unique and brightly coloured works at the largest ever contemporary Maori art show, Maori Art Market from Oct 6- 9.
Brockhill’s contemporary style, which is often impressed with stamps and texture and enhanced by vivid glazes which she mixes herself, has earned high praise from fellow artist and Maori Art Market’s creative director Darcy Nicholas,
“Maria Brockhill breaks the tradition of Maori clay artists with her beautiful rich glazes which are a reflection of the land and the sea. I can feel Taranaki when I see her work, and she brings a breath of fresh air to the Maori clay artists that will effect changes and the way the art form is developed,” says Darcy Nicholas.
Brockhill is exhibiting a number of land and sea inspired works alongside 200 emerging and established contemporary Maori artists and says that she is delighted to have been invited to showcase her works among so many great names.
“Not only is it a great opportunity to see Maori art and meet the artists, but also to see the international artists like Bunmei Okabe from Japan and Aboriginal artist, Danny Eastwood,” Brockhill says.
Brockhill who first learned about pottery through the New Plymouth Potters community classes now has a workshop near her home, where she makes her ceramic works, combining hand building and throwing on the wheel. You can also see Maria’s works at Kina in New Plymouth.
About Maori Art MARKet 2011
As part of the REAL New Zealand Festival running alongside the Rugby World Cup, an influx of tens of thousands of international rugby tourists is expected during the event, which will provide an opportunity to showcase Maori culture through contemporary Maori art, and enable visitors to talk to the artists and buy affordable and genuine Maori items to take home as mementos.
MAORI ART MARKet is open to the public from Thursday 6th of October to Sunday 9th of October at Te Rauparaha Arena and Pataka Museum and include artists Bunmei Okabe from Japan, Grahame Sydney the New Zealand invited artist, and Contemporary Maori artists Beverly Rhodes, Maria Brockhill, Barry Te Whatu, Norm Heke, Regan Balzer and Tanu Aumua.
Other specially invited guest artists to MAORI ART MARKet this year include Dan Namingha from USA, Danny Eastwood from Australia, Filipe Tohi a New Zealand Tongan, Fatu Feu’u a New Zealand Samoan, and Peter Coates a documentary-maker.
Only 20 minutes from downtown Wellington with plenty of parking. Catch the Airport Flyer bus or go by suburban train. Doors open from 10am each day. Adults $10. Children U18 and Kaumatua $5. Daily family passes $25. A rare chance to meet and talk to 200 contemporary
For full list of artists please follow this link Artists
www.maoriartmarket.com