Join Sofia Roger Williams and Beth Torrance-Hetherington for kōrero with artists and creative types from the wide art world of Tāmaki Makaurau and beyond!
Emily Cumming Harris was one of New Zealand’s first female botanical artists and writers. However, herself and her work has largely been forgotten. Neither her distinctive voice nor her almost 200 surviving images have been heard or seen in any quantity outside of archival or online spaces.
Groundwork: the Art and Writing of Emily Cumming Harris is a new book by author, poet and emeritus Professor of English at the University of Auckland, Michele Leggott, and co-author Catherine Field-Dodgson, published by Te Papa Press. It is the first detailed study of Harris’ exhibiting practices.
Sofia had a kōrero with Michele and Catherine about the book and what inspired them to embark on this research
Sofia went along to the opening night of the Aotearoa Art Fair. She asked a range of fair-goers what brought them there that evening, and their highlights of the fair thus far.
The Aotearoa Art Fair is on from 1-4 May at the Viaduct Events Centre.
We listened back to Sofia's coverage of the Aotearoa Art Fair opening on Thursday evening.
Beth spoke to the director of Printopia Festival, Ina Arraoui, about the events planned for this year.
And Sofia spoke to co-authors Michele Leggott and Catherine Field-Dodgson about their new book, Groundwork: the Art and Writing of Emily Cumming Harris.
And for Stage Direction this week, Alice Canton joined Sofia in the studio to chat with Florence Hartigan and Shoshana McCallum about Me, My Mother and Suzy Cato and Merely Beloved! - both on at the Herald Theatre from 8-10 May.
The Aotearoa Art Fair is coming up at the beginning of next month from 1-4 May. As one of the most significant art events in New Zealand’s cultural calendar, the Fair welcomes thousands of local and international visitors each year.
The Fair spotlights the breadth and diversity of contemporary art in Aotearoa and beyond, bringing together leading galleries from New Zealand and Australia to showcase a range of works by emerging and established artists. Whether you’re a seasoned collector, occasional buyer, or just curious about art, the fair is an opportunity to browse and buy from a range of galleries and practitioners.
Ahead of the fair, Sofia had a kōrero with Fair Director, Sue Waymouth, about the programme for 2025 and overall kaupapa.
In 1975, a makeshift museum opened on a farm in the Māniototo region of Central Otago. The main feature of this new attraction was the nearly 300 high-end fashion garments on display in an old tractor shed.
Amassed by a successful but quietly spoken high-country farmer, J Eden Hore, the collection has been called one of the most significant of its kind in Australasia.
Central Otago: The Eden Hore Collection is a new publication by dress historian and curator, Jane Malthus, and Senior Curator of New Zealand Culture and History at Te Papa and fashion historian, Claire Regnault, featuring photography by renowned photographer, Derek Henderson, in association with Te Papa Press. The book had its official launch party at Melanie Roger Gallery earlier this week, where prints of Henderson’s photography of the Eden Hore collection are being exhibited until 17th April.
Sofia caught up with Jane Malthus and Derek Henderson about the history of the Hore collection and making of the book.
Cadence Chung is a poet from Pōneke. Her poetry has been featured in Aotearoa publications such as Bad Apple, Landfall, Starling and The Spinoff. Her chapbook, anomalia, was published in 2022.
Mad Diva is their latest collection of poetry, published by Otago University Press on April 8th. It is rich in imagery of divas in opera houses, art galleries, dive bars, bedrooms; in the purple light of Farmers at dusk and in Wakefield Street at midnight.
Beth had a kōrero with Cadence about Mad Diva, and how opera and poetry informed the other in her creative process
Sofia had a kōrero with Aotearoa Art Fair director, Sue Waymouth, about the kaupapa of the fair and this year’s programme, ahead of its opening on 1st May.
Beth had a kōrero with Pōneke poet Cadence Chung about their latest collection of poetry, Mad Diva, out now via Otago University Press.
Established in 1997, RM is Aotearoa’s longest running artist-run space. The gallery seeks to engage with the practices, discourses and modes of presentation that aren’t well-supported or easily accessible in Tāmaki Makaurau, placing the work of local emerging artists alongside more seasoned practitioners.
Published by RM with the support of CNZ, RM25 is a non-exhaustive selection of scans and screenshots from the RM archives (physical and digital) presented in broadly chronological order.
Sofia spoke with longtime member, Nina Dyer, about the book and the history of RM and artist-run initiatives in Aotearoa.
Conor Bowden is the writer and producer of the upcoming feature film Home Sweet Home, which explores the absurdity of renting in present day New Zealand.
Beth caught up with Conor about Home Sweet Home and the experience of writing a feature film.
Sofia caught up with curator of the exhibition and Head of Curatorial and Learning at Auckland Art Gallery, Dr Sarah Farrar, about Mark Adams: A Survey | He Kohinga Whakaahua.
Beth caught up with Conor Bowden about his upcoming feature film Home Sweet Home.
Sofia spoke with longtime RM Gallery member, Nina Dyer, about Various Rooms: RM 1997 to 2022 and the history of RM and artist-run initiatives in Aotearoa.
Mayen Mehta and Ryan O'Kane from Auckland Theatre Company joined Sofia in the studio to chat about Murder on the Orient Express, on at ASB Waterfront Theatre 22 April - 10 May.
Florence Hartigan and Shoshana McCallum chat to Alice Canton about their shows, Me, My Mother and Suzy Cato and Merely Beloved! on at the Herald Theatre from 8-10 May.
Mayen Mehta and Ryan O'Kane from Auckland Theatre Company joined Sofia in the studio to chat about Murder on the Orient Express, on at ASB Waterfront Theatre 22 April - 10 May.
John Davies joined Sofia and Beth in studio to chat about Te Tupua - The Goblin, a solo play written and performed by Davies himself. Tickets for tonight's show at Te Pou Theatre here.
Ahi Karunaharan joined Beth and Sofia in the studio to talk about a mixtape for maladies, the final chapter of Karunaharan's trilogy. The play tells the story of 17 nostalgic pop tracks which chart the deeply moving journey of Sangeetha and her family in 1950s Sri Lanka. a mixtape for maladies is on at ASB Waterfront Theatre from the 4th March. You can get your tickets here.
Alice Canton spoke to artistic director of Auckland Arts Festival, Bernie Haldane, about the programme this year. The festival is running from 6-23 March. More info here!
Brady Peeti (Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi, Ngāti Maniapoto) joined Sofia in the studio to speak about "What Happened to Mary-Anne?" - a story of trans woman Mary-Anne and her insatiable adoration for the power of rock. The show is on at the Q Theatre Loft from 11th-15th February. You can get your tickets here!
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