Latest news with #TaupōMuseum
Scoop
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Joy On Display: Taupō Museum Opens Uplifting New Exhibition
'Every time I walk past that painting of yours, I smile,' a collector once told artist Lianne Adams. That single expression helped inspire the theme of Joy, the latest exhibition at Taupō Museum. Opening this Friday 18 July, Joy celebrates the simple but powerful emotion of happiness, and invites visitors to pause, breathe, and reconnect with the uplifting energy that art can bring. The title of the exhibition also reflects the feeling that the three artists experienced when they made the life-changing decision to leave the daily work grind to pursue careers in the arts. Lianne began her painting journey at Active Arts in Taupō creating modern acrylics, whimsical collages, and mixed-media pieces that evoke nostalgia and warmth. Nicki Mclaren, a familiar face at Market Central Taupō with her handcrafted resin domestic ware, presents a striking selection of large-scale resin art and contemporary paintings. Alison, a Tauranga-based metal artist and painter, celebrates female strength and creativity through works crafted with a welder, blowtorch, and brush. Despite their distinct styles, the three artists are united by a shared passion and a desire to spread joy through their work. Joy opens with a special launch event on Friday 18 July at 6pm at Taupō Museum. The public is warmly invited to attend. The exhibition will be on display from 19 July to 31 August. Taupō Museum is open daily from 10am to 4.30pm and entry is free for locals with proof of address. Come along, take a moment, and experience the joy for yourself.
Scoop
30-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Punarua Exhibition Arrives At Taupō Museum
Press Release – Taupo District Council Punarua offers a moment of celebration and reflection during Matariki. The exhibition shares not just the piupiu, but the journey to create it, with an accompanying documentary that takes viewers behind the scenes, from the first threads to its international … Punarua: Weaving work honours legacy of Tūwharetoa knowledge holders Taupō Museum is set to unveil Punarua, possibly the largest piupiu ever created, in its Aotearoa debut following a standout international premiere at the prestigious 2024 Biennale of Sydney. Commissioned especially for the Biennale, Punarua was designed and led by Hone Bailey, a member of the local weaving collective Te Whā ā Huna, which also includes Paehoro Konui, Meraania Heke Chase-Perich, and Manu Fox. The piece pays tribute to the late Koro Te Kanawa Pitiroi, a respected leader of Ngāti Tūwharetoa and tireless advocate for the preservation of iwi knowledge. Hone Bailey, recognised online for sharing insights into te ao Māori with a large and loyal following, is an integral part of Te Whā ā Huna. Punarua is very much the work of the collective, whose artistry and cultural depth shaped the taonga from its base in Tokaanu, a place known for its geothermal beauty and celestial connections, reflected in the names of its streets. The work draws inspiration from the ancestral narrative of Māui-takitaki-i-te-rā and was created using traditional weaving techniques passed down through generations. This project is not only a celebration of intergenerational storytelling but a labour of love and legacy by weavers deeply connected to the whenua. 'This taonga is a living piece,' says museum curator Piata Winitana-Murray. 'By exhibiting Punarua during Matariki and then long term in the Tūwharetoa Gallery, we honour the fact that these traditions are still very much alive – practiced, celebrated, and shared with whānau and the community.' Punarua offers a moment of celebration and reflection during Matariki. The exhibition shares not just the piupiu, but the journey to create it, with an accompanying documentary that takes viewers behind the scenes, from the first threads to its international debut. Punarua will first be exhibited in the art gallery before moving to the Tūwharetoa Gallery on long-term loan at Taupō Museum for two years. This placement reflects the wishes of the weavers to share it publicly with their whānau and community, and to remind visitors that taonga within museums are not only relics of the past, but part of ongoing traditions. Punarua opens at Taupō Museum on Saturday, June 7. There will also be an opportunity to hear all four artists discuss the creation of this unique and significant piece at 10.30am that same day. The museum is open from 10am to 4.30pm daily, with free entry for local residents. This Matariki, come and witness a taonga woven from ancestral wisdom and community pride.
Scoop
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Punarua Exhibition Arrives At Taupō Museum
Punarua: Weaving work honours legacy of Tūwharetoa knowledge holders Taupō Museum is set to unveil Punarua, possibly the largest piupiu ever created, in its Aotearoa debut following a standout international premiere at the prestigious 2024 Biennale of Sydney. Commissioned especially for the Biennale, Punarua was designed and led by Hone Bailey, a member of the local weaving collective Te Whā ā Huna, which also includes Paehoro Konui, Meraania Heke Chase-Perich, and Manu Fox. The piece pays tribute to the late Koro Te Kanawa Pitiroi, a respected leader of Ngāti Tūwharetoa and tireless advocate for the preservation of iwi knowledge. Hone Bailey, recognised online for sharing insights into te ao Māori with a large and loyal following, is an integral part of Te Whā ā Huna. Punarua is very much the work of the collective, whose artistry and cultural depth shaped the taonga from its base in Tokaanu, a place known for its geothermal beauty and celestial connections, reflected in the names of its streets. The work draws inspiration from the ancestral narrative of Māui-takitaki-i-te-rā and was created using traditional weaving techniques passed down through generations. This project is not only a celebration of intergenerational storytelling but a labour of love and legacy by weavers deeply connected to the whenua. 'This taonga is a living piece,' says museum curator Piata Winitana-Murray. 'By exhibiting Punarua during Matariki and then long term in the Tūwharetoa Gallery, we honour the fact that these traditions are still very much alive - practiced, celebrated, and shared with whānau and the community.' Punarua offers a moment of celebration and reflection during Matariki. The exhibition shares not just the piupiu, but the journey to create it, with an accompanying documentary that takes viewers behind the scenes, from the first threads to its international debut. Punarua will first be exhibited in the art gallery before moving to the Tūwharetoa Gallery on long-term loan at Taupō Museum for two years. This placement reflects the wishes of the weavers to share it publicly with their whānau and community, and to remind visitors that taonga within museums are not only relics of the past, but part of ongoing traditions. Punarua opens at Taupō Museum on Saturday, June 7. There will also be an opportunity to hear all four artists discuss the creation of this unique and significant piece at 10.30am that same day. The museum is open from 10am to 4.30pm daily, with free entry for local residents. This Matariki, come and witness a taonga woven from ancestral wisdom and community pride.
