Mount Aspiring College Arts Department presented “Tupu” from 5 - 9 July at the Lake Wanaka Centre. It was a fabulous opportunity for the school and wider community to see a range of curriculum-based Visual Arts, Drama, Music, and Maori Performing Arts presented by the Cultural and Arts students of the College.

(Photo above:  'Flagons and Foxtrots')

TUPU ART AND PERFORMING ARTS WEEK

As I write this there are still two incredible nights of music to go. The Arts Department couldn’t be prouder of the total professional work ethic our visual artists and performing artists have demonstrated this week. This is the first time we have run a week like this and our students have truly stepped up to make it happen. They have been testing their skills learnt in our new Entertainment Technology courses in Music and Drama leading technical aspects behind the scenes in sound, lighting, set, costume and makeup. It is no mean feat to pack out one show ready to start another the next day. This has been real-world learning. Tupu literally means growth and our students have grown so much this year. The performers have given their all after dedicated rehearsal sessions and have had the opportunity to share classroom work in a bigger performance venue. They really all did their absolute personal best so what more can you ask. It was so wonderful to be able to include the community in Mata-au kapa haka festival led by the extremely dedicated and passionate Kaz Roberts. Coming together and sharing was what this week has all been about.

I am incredibly grateful for the dedication and passion of our Arts Department team Mat Doyle (Assistant HOLA Music), Murray Allen (Assistant HOLA Visual Arts), Jenny Edgar, Clare Thomas-Moore, Helen Carter, Johanna Hansen, Jane Watson-Taylor and our support staff Danielle Pullar, Katherine Heap, Pete Stevenson, Alistair Monteith, Chaz McLeod. A special thank you also goes to Carolyn Lyon working in our junior drama classes this term.

Our team is also very thankful for those generous staff who are willing to just roll up their sleeves and do what is needed. Without them, we would not be able to offer these opportunities to our students. Many have helped in many ways. Nikki Cotter, Joanna Hewson-William and Mandy Sherson have particularly gone above and beyond. A very special thank you to Gena Bagley for Makeup tutoring and support whilst on leave.

We are also so privileged to have the support of some very generous community members always willing to help our young people. A very heartfelt thank you goes to Kathryn Liggins and Grenville Craig who mentor and support our young people in technical elements at the drop of a hat. A special thank you to Mike Regal and the Radio Wanaka Team for their never-ending support of our Department and students encouraging them to speak about it on air.

We could also not do this without the support of Christine Schafer at the Lake Wanaka Centre. Her patient assistance and willingness to be so accommodating is truly appreciated.

We also want to acknowledge the parents and whanau of our dedicated students. Your support, encouragement and patience with your child as they prepared their work was invaluable. Thank you for coming out and supporting our students as they bravely shared their work.

Emily McRae

HOLA Arts

Photos below:  'Flagons and Foxtrots'

Photos below:  'Drop Dead Juliet'

MATA-AU KAPA HAKA FESTIVAL

On Tuesday 6 July we held a local community kapa haka festival called 'Mata-au kapa haka festival'.

This was organised by the teachers in charge of kapa haka within our local schools and was attended by 200+ rangatahi/tamariki in our area. The schools that participated were: Mt Aspiring College, Wanaka Primary, Take Karara, Hawea Flat Primary, Holy Family, Tarras School, (Makarora was involved in the planning but unfortunately couldn't make it on the day). The ECE's were: Kanuka Corner, Aspiring Beginnings, Hawea Flat kindy, Little Wonders, Riverside, Mountainside and Wanaka Preschool.

The day consisted of students being mixed up and split into three groups which then spent the morning rotating around three different workshops. These consisted of: Pūrakau (stories), Waiata (song) and Māori games. All the teachers and support parents were blown away by the leadership that the MAC students took, and the way that they interacted with and engaged the younger children throughout the day.

We then all got dressed in our kākāhu and performed to each other on the stage. All the schools and ECE's demonstrated a passion for kapa haka and it was a great opportunity to learn Te Taukaea Aroha, the waiata that one of our staff groups along with the support of Ngai Tahu are hoping to teach the Wanaka community. 

A special thanks to Anthony Olson for sharing his stories, Wayne Enoka for being the MC and keeping everyone in line, Emily McRae for the space and time during Tupu Arts Festival Week and all the staff and parents who supported us in making the day so successful. We hope that this event will continue to run and we look forward to being able to share this with whānau and the wider community.

'FURREAL’

YEAR 10 ART

Inspired by the conversation between Oppenheim and Picasso, and Dora Maar, in a Paris cafe, where Picasso remarked that one could cover just about anything with fur. “Even this cup and saucer,” Oppenheim replied.

Students then took this inspiration to turn everyday household objects into bizarre ‘furreal’ objects that bring them to life, allowing the observer to stop and question what it is and even make up their own answer on what they feel it has turned into.

Working with 3D objects in a surreal manner became an extension of the Year 10 surrealist still life paintings worked on in the first half of the year.