Friday 8th March 2019 is International Women’s Day and you’ll find articles, conversations and performances acknowledging or referencing this day.
ARTbop starts a series of conversations with mature, talented Bay of Plenty women creatives: Invisibility Disdained. The first conversation features Whakamarama’s Suzanne Sturrock. A talented sculptural potter Suzanne also creates “Palagi Tivaivai” – here’s an image of her creative fibre work:
e-tangata has a series of conversations with Maori and Pacifica women who have inspired the series writer. I recently watched the conversation with land activist Pania Newton who, with her whanau and the community, was attempting to stop a housing development project at Ihumatao in South Auckland. https://e-tangata.co.nz/video/conversations-pania-newton/ https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12208671
LEAH CARROL & THE LOAN STARS
Tauranga local Leah Carrol and The Loan Stars will be at the Vinyl Destination in Downtown Tauranga from 8pm. Leah will be releasing her new single “The Better Bitter Song” Sunlive’s Janne Guitar Girl has an article about Leah and her music https://www.sunlive.co.nz/blogs/12988-spotlight-on-leah-carroll.html
THE WALLACE GALLERY, MORRINSVILLE: ARTNEXUS
It may be coincidental but there’s a collaborative exhibition by a long-standing Waikato women’s creative group now showing at the Wallace Gallery in Morrinsville. Artnexus and their 2019 exhibition “Resolution” is at the Main and Community Galleries. 
While you’re at the gallery take a look at the exhibition of the design work of Anna Crichton and the large and imposing works of Philip Trusttum in the adjacent Sir James Wallace Collection gallery room. I’m writing about my weekend visit to Morrinsville in Been & Seen – there’s more to this town than painted cows and I’m going to include my conversation with two of the Artnexus creatives in the series Invisibility Disdained.
THE JAM FACTORY AT THE INCUBATOR, MID-TOWN TAURANGA
At the Jam Factory on Friday night, Antebellum (metal infused, rock) will be performing 6.30pm to 10pm. Every time we write about The Jam Factory we rave about the style and décor of this restored building. It’s so cool and is right for any style from baroque to Antebellum! 
TAURANGA TOWN HAS HAPPENING…
On Saturday the 9th there’s the Pride Picnic “Be yourself – everyone else is taken” Cult Cinema and Le Diner en blanc. What ever you do, which ever event you are at – ENJOY!
MARKETS, FAIRS AND FROLICS!
If you’re interested in markets and fairs check out The Corner Shop NZ on facebook. https://www.facebook.com/thecornershopnz
At The Corner Shop we love visiting the markets, vintage boutiques like Cindylou Vintage on Snodgrass Road at Te Puna
and we can often be found testing the cakes in cafes such as Nourish and even as far away as the Crazee Cow in Morrinsville – this is their Sourcream and Blueberry treat…and their pot of tea was bliss!
KATI KATI: Avocado capital of New Zealand (and the world!)
The Carlton Gallery in Kati Kati has an ever-changing exhibition schedule. Opening on the 18th March 2019 for two weeks at the Carlton Gallery, the Tauranga Porcelain Artists are presenting an Exhibition of their style of Art. There will be displays of Traditional work as well as more Modern Designs. 
On some days there will be a Tauranga Porcelain Art member as an “Artist in Residence” where you can see the techniques used and be able to talk to the artist.
If you’re visiting Kati Kati make a point of going to the new Library – The Centre Patuki Manawa. Open Monday-Friday 8am-5pm and Saturday 9am-12noon. They even have a Scrabble Club, a Knit & Natter, Movie at the Library, Drop in Tech Support, Dungeons and Dragons, and…… And don’t miss Kati Chat one the first Wednesday of every month newcomers are invited to a morning tea. Phone 07 549 5250, Katch Katikati.
SUSTAINABLE BACKYARDS IN THE BAY OF PLENTY:
March is a big month for Enviro Bay of Plenty – it the time of Sustainable Backyards. This environment-focused festival is so diverse – check out the programme https://envirohub.org.nz/sustainablebackyards/ and facebook https://www.facebook.com/sustainablebackyards/
ADVANCE NOTICE: NEXT MONTH TAURANGA HOSTS ITS ANNUAL JAZZ FESTIVAL!
Every Easter Tauranga hosts the National Jazz Festival. The programme’s out now. Do not miss the opening section of the Festival: the 42nd Youth Jazz Competition on the 5th and 6th April 2019. Every year I’ve found this section has been my absolute festival highlight. The main programme runs from the 18th to 21st April 2019 and there is literally something for everyone – there’s even a Jazz High Tea at the Hotel Armitage in Tauranga’s Downtown. The Armitage has been undergoing an extensive process of refurbishment. It’s sited at the Otamataha Pa/The Elms junction of Willow Street. There are huge and stately pohutukawas lining this roadway. If you’re wanting to share in the Jazz Festival fun you’d better be confirming your accommodation now.
LAST WEEK:-
I had a wonderful weekend last weekend over in Morrinsville. The week before that I was up taking an updated look around Kati Kati. There is so much to do and see and it doesn’t always “cost”. If you’re a group of about four you could car pool. Had my first Te Reo Maori lesson at Whakamarama School and proved conclusively that I’m uncordinated. Planning to go up to Auckland for the Pacifica fashion restrospective at the Auckland Art Gallery and down to Whakatane for the Molly Morpeth Canaday Award Exhibition. Will be going over to Rotorua to catch up with the talented Miriam Ruberl for the Invisibility Disdained series and on any day after 3pm will be checking out the new exhibitions at the Tauranga Art Gallery. Today, well I had brunch with a much younger talented creative whom I won’t be seeing for a while as she has a huge project to complete to a deadline. Don’t forget the new creative art and artisan product gallery and retail shop at the Black Sheep Whakamarama – The Atrium Gallery. Have a browse Wednesday to Sunday and enjoy the food and drinks while you’re there.
Rosemary Balu. Rosemary Balu is the founding and current Managing Editor of ARTbop. Rosemary has arts and law degrees from the University of Auckland. She has been a working lawyer and has participated in a wide variety of community activities where information gathering, submission writing, community advocacy and education have been involved. Interested in all forms of the arts since childhood Rosemary is focused on further developing and expanding multi-media ARTbop as the magazine for all the creative arts in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.
ARTbop promotes
(or we think you should check this out!)
MOLLY MORPETH CANADAY AWARD, Whakatane
Winners of the 2019 Molly Morpeth Canaday Award – John Brown, Teresa HR Lane, Danae Ripley, Lea-Anne Sheather, Esther Deans, Raewyn Martin, Adrienne Millwood, Kirsten Ferguson, Nicola McCafferty, Toby George King, Sena Park, and Mary Duggan.
Read all about the award results below, and please come along to see the exhibition in person at Te Kōputu a te whanga a Toi – Whakatāne Library and Exhibition Centre if you are able. Open 9am-5pm on weekdays, and 10am-2pm on weekends.
Remember – you can also help to select a winner – vote for the People’s Choice Award at the gallery!
With our exhibition partners, Arts Whakatāne and Whakatane Museum and Arts.
#Whakatane #MMCA #PaintingandDrawing #NZArtAward
TAURANGA ART GALLERY
THE CARLTON GALLERY AT THE ARTS JUNCTION, KATI KATI
Exhibitions change regularly in the Carlton Gallery and the Gallery is available to be hired for your show of work. (if you’re interested in exhibiting contact details are below)
The Arts Junction is open Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm and 10am to 2pm Saturdays and Sundays. Located at 36 Main Road, Kati Kati (next to the Western Bay of Plenty Museum) Phone 549 5250 or email jacqui@katchkatikati.org.nz https://www.facebook.com/TheArtsJunction/
CURRENTLY SHOWING AT THE CARLTON GALLERY:
2019 Trustpower Photographic Exhibition
CHECK OUT THE WINNERS OF THE TRUSTPOWER PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION
From 3698 competition entries, the 20 winning images are now showcased in the third annual Trustpower Photographic Exhibition! Come and see the breathtaking winning images, presented on large-scale display boards in the Bay’s largest outdoor photographic exhibition. It’s on right now on The Strand, in Downtown Tauranga until 14 April 2019
ATRIUM GALLERY AT THE BLACK SHEEP, WHAKAMARAMA
Developed as a community gallery and retail space with lots of hard work and effort by local creatives, the Atrium Gallery is open 11am to 5pm Wednesday to Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday. https://www.facebook.com/atriumgallerynz
If you have information about an upcoming arts event, exhibition or arts news you can contact ARTbop at info@artbop.co.nz
