The first street art festival in Downtown Tauranga, Paradox is scheduled for the end of March to June 2017.
The contemporary, cosmopolitan brand launch of Paradox a project led by Tauranga City Council, the Tauranga Art Gallery and
Oi YOU! – the private collectors George Shaw and Shannon Webster.
It’s almost a natural progression from the Owen Dippie reproductions of classic European and New Zealand colonial art which gradually appeared on Tauranga City walls; the more street style art of a former nightclub and of course the wonderful work of Lovey and Jah Smith in bringing a street art festival week to Mount Maunganui.
So I’m happy to be standing with an eclectic crowd of bureaucrats, media, commerce and arts in the Tauranga Art Gallery Atrium to hear Sarah Lewis of Tauranga City Council smash the champagne as this contemporary cultural boat is launched.
The “brand launch” is just that – the public reveal of PARADOX and a fundamentally commercial request for sponsorship and partnership.
The rear cover of the promotional booklet promotes the “unique opportunity to align your brand with this powerful medium”.
If you are thinking of partnering with Tauranga City Council this would have to be a wonderful opportunity to associate with a more “youth” focused cultural project.
ARTbop has been banging on about street art and the importance of alternative creativity for a while now. A year or two ago I invited Dhaivat Mehta to join the ARTbop team to help me develop ARTbop alternative to record, publish and promote the non-mainstream creativity of the Bay of Plenty.
I can’t help remembering the time I introduced
Dhaivat to Tauranga event organisers. Why? We thought Tauranga would benefit culturally and commercially from an alternative festival to be run in conjunction with the mainstream arts festival.
Well, they say to every season there is a time and now’s the time for Paradox – I’m impressed it usally takes 10 – 15 years for progress.
Although I can’t help noticing that the Tauranga Art Gallery has been on a rocket-style trajectory of recent times.
What do I as a “mature” member of the wider Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty community think about Paradox? You only have to check back through some of my Rapid Reviews – I love street art. I also love street art on railway carriages. I’m totally opposed to tagging although I can understand that spray painting your identifying symbol along major roadways and other people’s buildings is for some the equivalent of the Paul Harris badge.
The only concern I have about Paradox is the extent of the proposed festival. While I’m not sure I want Western Bays to amalgamate with the debt-ridden Tauranga District, I find the parochialism of festivals and events “old fashioned”. I wonder why we can’t emulate the upcoming Bay of Plenty Garden & Art Festival and encourage a geographically wider leverage of an activity. We want visitors of all kinds to remain as long as possible in our region. It would be interesting to see the same G&A Festival outreach for the Arts Festival and Paradox.
And while I’m banging on make sure you get along to:
Collider Scope the joint exhibition of Jackie Gray and Baz Mantis at The Incubator Gallery, Historic Village, 17th Avenue, Tauranga and do not miss…
The inaugural International Youth Silent Film Festival regionals at Baycourt Theatre on Saturday 22nd October 2016. Original silent films acccompanied by the original musical themes of Nathan Avakian on the wonderful Wurlitzer.
This is another genre and event I am delighted to see has been grabbed by Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty. If you’ve not heard of Nathan Avakian take a look at http://artbop.co.nz/ordinary-organ-exponent-nathan-avakian-outside-box-tauranga/ and if you need to refresh your memory about silent films and the International Youth Silent Film Festival go to http://artbop.co.nz/youth-silent-films-at-baycourt/
Down at The Incubator at the Historic Village on the 29th October from 6pm there’s a presentation in conjunction with Night Owl Cinema of “A Dark Night Out” The work of emerging artist Anneliese Altena-Parker ‘Ghoulish Girls’ with live music by ‘Here Lies the Homunculi’. At 9pm a People’s Choice Halloween Film. Its $15 a ticket with complimentary wine and trick and treat goodies. Dress Cod Gothic and Ghoulish.
And if you’re wondering what they got up to on Halloween’s past take a look at the Church of Scowloween in ARTbop alternative http://artbop.co.nz/the-church-of-scowloween-review-3102015/
Again at The Incubator on 12th November 2016 you can celebrate the influence of punk in art, fashion and music. From 6pm celebrate the 40th anniversary of the punk revolution An exhibition of the styles, sighs and sounds of the punk movement. A fashion show of designs influenced by the culture and couture of punk. An exhibiton of punk inspired artwork. The sound of punk, honouring the spirit and attitude of the times. Tickets are $20 prebooked or $25 on the night. You can get a ticket from The Incubator or www.undertheradar.co.nz
Bay of Plenty GARDEN & ART Festival, 17th – 20th November 2016 the tenth Biennial Garden & Art Festival showcasing Katikati, Tauranga, Mt Maunganui and Te Puke. A new festival format – a four day festival. Garden trails open from Thursday through to Sunday with one or four day ticket options. The Festival Hub at the Lakes with displays, exhibitions, creative concept spaces and so much more check out www.gardenandartfestival.co.nz
And finally – what about one of those brightly painted “tourist” small buses that would run in a loop from Mount Maunganui, through Downtown Tauranga, out to the Historic Village, Gate Pa Pukekhinahina, up through the Greerton Village and out to Te Ranga. Unlimited rides for a day for a set amount. Cruise ship visitors don’t carry their cars in their handbags!
Rosemary Balu. Rosemary Balu is the founding and current 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.
