Neurodiverse artist Yaniv Janson invites Rotorua to create community masterpiece
The neurodiverse artist is also hosting a free Community Canvas workshop, where locals can help paint a giant collaborative artwork. Once complete, the piece would tour schools and community spaces.
Janson, who has
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The razzmatazz of a bullseye sport
When Australian darts champion Damon Heta aka The Heat does his 'walk-on' to the oche for tonight's New Zealand Darts Masters title in Auckland, he'll be rarking up the fans to a different tune. The Perth-based world number 10 will be tapping into his kiwi roots when he walks on to The Exponents' smash hit Why Does Love Do This To Me. The walk-on theme music is a vital part of the razzmatazz of the World Series of Darts tour and Heta, with his trademark handlebar moustache, is famous for his whacky dancing and headdress of flames. He loves the crowds and the crowds love him. Damon Heta, The Heat (R) and Ben Robb aka Big Rig. Photo: Supplied Usually on the world tour, Heta gets the fans chanting to Bruce Springsteen's Dancing in the Dark, but this weekend he hopes he can win over the famously boisterous crowd with a tried and true Kiwi crowd pleaser. 'It's the rugby one, isn't it, that everyone sings to,' says Heta, who is proud of his local connections. 'It's crazy. Today I'm going to meet some family that I've never met before.' Heta hopes the Auckland fans will be on his side as he vies for the championship against the world's best, including teen sensation Luke Littler. He's beaten 'the young punk' once and reckons he can put him back in his place again. 'It's like he doesn't have a care in the world, like most teenagers, you know what I mean,' he jokes. 'No, fair play to him, he's brought the sport along in leaps and bounds … so yeah, it's getting good knowledge and expanding the game.' Darts legends, commentator John McDonald and referee Russ Bray tell The Detail how they've watched it go from a boozy pub game to a global event . 'I go to Mongolia and do darts in Mongolia,' says Bray. 'The change is massive.' 'It's grown beyond anyone's comprehension now,' says McDonald. 'It's a major sport, second to only the Premier League Football in the United Kingdom, with television ratings that most sports would be envious of. 'So it's grown into this enormous global brand and a very, very exciting night out.' Heta says when he played his first darts match in a pub at the age of 15, he had no idea that he could make big money from it. 'It wasn't until the big boys came over and then finding out that I could compete and from then on I just went on and on and did all the protocols that you need to do to become professional and sure enough I'm back here and I'm one of the big dogs,' he says. New Zealand amateur favourite Ben Robb, aka Big Rig, says the game has developed in the years since he first played in a pub. Top level darts now attracts all ages and women, and the money is so 'grand' there is a professional mindset. Robb reckons mental strength makes the difference at competitions. 'Once everyone learns how to throw a dart it's about being composed, handling big moments, owning the stage and being the big guy. ' Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here. You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter.
NZ Herald
a day ago
- NZ Herald
Neurodiverse artist Yaniv Janson invites Rotorua to create community masterpiece
Internationally recognised Raglan-based artist Yaniv Janson is bringing his Abstract Acrylics exhibition to Rotorua this weekend. The neurodiverse artist is also hosting a free Community Canvas workshop, where locals can help paint a giant collaborative artwork. Once complete, the piece would tour schools and community spaces. Janson, who has
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Programme ‘quite a ride'
Versatile, Wellington-based conductor Brent Stewart has returned to Dunedin this week amid preparations for the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra's "Amalia Plays Piazzolla" matinee series concerts. The two concerts, to be held on Saturday from 5pm and Sunday from 3pm at King's & Queen's Performing Arts Centre, will showcase a programme ranging across more than two hundred years. Stewart, who last conducted the DSO during the "Synthony" concert in Christchurch last year, which fused electronic dance music and classical music together, is thoroughly enjoying working with the orchestra again. "We are preparing a fascinating programme for this weekend's concerts, from Nathaniel Otley's extraordinary new work to one of Mozart's greatest symphonies — it's going to be quite a ride," Stewart said. Opening the concert, Otley's piece — the rising tide: these former wetlands , inspired by the environmental changes in South Dunedin — required orchestra members to adopt a range of unusual techniques to bring the composer's vision to life. "We are bringing Nathaniel in to all of our rehearsals of the piece, to give support, feedback and answer the musicians' questions," Stewart said. "He has a lot of very specific requirements for sounds, including using quarter tones, specific timbres, tongue slaps, fingernails on the timpani, unusual bowing techniques and even incorporating sculptures. "It can be quite challenging, so we are doing a lot of workshopping in rehearsals, which has been fascinating." Otley himself would participate in the performance, controlling sample sounds alongside the orchestra. "This piece has been Nathaniel's main focus for this year, so we really want to honour his amazing work by giving it the best possible premiere performance." The orchestra will then be joined on stage by leading New Zealand violinist Amalia Hall for a performance of Piazzolla's Four Seasons of Buenos Aires , arranged by Ukrainian composer Leonid Desyatnikov. Written in 1970, the piece is described as a tango-infused answer to Vivaldi's famous Four Seasons, which includes "quotations" from the original work. "I am lucky enough to work with Amalia quite regularly in Wellington, and she is a prodigious talent. "It is impressive how quickly she can learn music by heart and her ear is amazing," Stewart said. There were moments throughout the piece where the orchestra section leads would play with Hall in a kind-of string quartet formation, and there were many high-spirited moments throughout. "It's one of those pieces where you can see the players really enjoying themselves — it's groovy, uplifting and very accessible. "I think we are in for a very special performance of this really fun and interesting work." During his last visit to Dunedin in 2023, Stewart conducted the DSO in a performance of Mozart's Symphony No. 41 , so it is fitting that on his return he will conduct another brilliant late-career masterpiece — Mozart's Symphony No. 39 . "Mozart's final three symphonies, which he wrote in a great flurry of activity, are considered among his greatest. "The Symphony No. 39 has a great sense of dance running through it, and will be a lovely way to round out the concert." As a freelance conductor, working on developing his career, Stewart is working with a range of musical organisations, including as musical director of Orpheus Choir in Wellington, NZ Secondary School Choir, Orchestra Wellington, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, NZ Opera, NZ Ballet and the DSO. He was recently named the NZ Opera Friedlander Foundation Associate Artist for 2025. "I am having a very busy year, which is great and gives me opportunities to continue building my relationships with musical organisations here and overseas," he said.
