Call for EXPRESSIONS of INTEREST

HELLO from Fresh Gallery Otara!

The Otara Business Association and Manukau Arts are proud to present the Otara Art Market - a concept discussed for some years by local community people - aiming to bring together a concentrated group of high quality visual arts producers in one space, the Otara Community Courtyard for the eight Saturdays leading up to Christmas.

We aim to enable artists to maximise on the Christmas dollar and the hustle bustle of the Otara Flea Market. The Otara Community Courtyard will accommodate for eight high quality stall holders, situated around the periphery of the courtyard each Saturday. With plenty of seating and tables and hopefully a great coffee vendor, the public can also enjoy live music and live art demonstrations: OMAC is presenting a programme of hot musical acts every Saturday and Fresh Gallery Otara is presenting a 'Live Art Making' spot in the middle of the courtyard where different artists will be performing live art making demonstrations every week from 9am - 12 midday. Artists range from sculptors to stencil artists, video makers to hair artists!

We are inviting expressions of interest from visual artists, makers and producers to hold a stall on one or more Saturdays in November and December. We are looking primarily for reliable local artists who can create a well presented stall made up of high quality products that may include, but not limited to:

• Paintings (small, medium or large)
• Sculpture / Objects
• Homeware (cushions, bedspreads, soft furnishings etc)
• Ceramics
• Textile arts (tivaevae, quilts, wall hangings)
• Clothing (Unique and locally designed)

The deadline for submitting an expression of interest form is Friday 26 September. Forms should be submitted via email to Ema Tavola at Fresh Gallery Otara on Ema.Tavola@manukau.govt.nz or dropped off at Fresh Gallery Otara, 5/46 Fairmall, Otara Town Centre, Manukau City, or alternatively, posted to:

Ema Tavola
Fresh Gallery Otara
Private Bag 76917
Manukau 2241

Please contact Ema via email for an Expression of Interest form.

Please also direct any enquiries about the Otara Art Market to Ema Tavola via email or phone (09) 274 6400 / 0274 650493.

An evening with Suzanne Tamaki

Suzanne Tamaki is an Otaki based fashion designer, fibre artist, producer and Toi Iho certified jewellery maker.

Fresh Gallery Otara is proud to present a unique opportunity to hear from Suzanne Tamaki, fresh from her involvement with the Aotearoa delegation at the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts in American Samoa.

When: 6-8pm, Tuesday 9 September 2008

Venue: Fresh Gallery Otara, Otara Town Centre, Manukau City

About Suzanne Tamaki...
Suzanne Tamaki (Maniapoto, Tuhoe, Te Arawa) is an Otaki-based fibre artist with the label Native Sista. She creates body adornment, costumes and jewellery inspired by legends and mythical creatures in the Pacific, as well as traditional indigenous costuming throughout the world. Suzanne was a founding member of the Pacific Sisters fashion collective in the mid 1990s, and participated in various multimedia fashion shows including the 12th Sydney Biennale and the 1996 South Pacific Festival of the Arts in Samoa. She often works as a guest tutor at various institutions and also produces multi-media fashion events independently promoting Maori and Pacific fashion, music, movement and image.

Her work has been exhibited extensively throughout New Zealand and the Pacific at venues including Objectspace in Auckland, City Gallery Wellington, Pataka Museum of Arts and History, the Dowse, Te Papa Tongarewa the Museum of New Zealand and Belau Museum during the 2004 South Pacific Arts Festival. She is a registered user of the Toi Iho Maori Made mark.

Information sourced from: http://www.pasifikastyles.org.uk/artists/suzanne-tamaki.php