Capture by A photoblog

Reef Gallery Celebrates 50 Years of Samoan Independence

Untitled -  Penitoa Finau

Against their parents’ warnings “you’ll never get anywhere with that art” these photographers - Penitoa Finau, Tux Hika, Mau Muaiava, Raymond Sagapolutele and Fofoga Setoga-Tuala are making names for themselves showing how Samoan and Pacific identities are re-invented across the generations.  They are a mix of tertiary graduates and self taught photographers who combine  media work,  business, tertiary study, management and parenthood with their artistic talents. All have exhibited previously. Mau Muaiava, who was official photographer for Manu Samoa for the Rugby World Cup, is included in an exhibition currently  showing in Los Angeles.

Marilyn Kohlhase

Independence Celebration Exhibition reveals how Samoans see themselves

Umu - Fofoga Setoga-Tuala

To mark 50 years of  Samoan Independence, Reef Gallery is re-launching with the Bounty Bars and Coconut Roughs Exhibition opening on Saturday June 2. Under the management of Marilyn Kohlhase Director of the former Okai Gallery that specialised in Pacific artists, this show is part of the Auckland Festival of Photography 2012..

Reef Gallery is delighted that the Bounty Bars and Coconut Roughs Exhibition will be opened by  Dr Damon Salesa Head of Pacific Studies at the University of Auckland. He has recently returned from a prestigious academic career in North America that began by being the first Pacific Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University in.

In the last 5 decades Samoans in NZ have photographed their lives at home, at church, at festivals, and celebrations for family records. In the ten years a new generation has recorded these same scenes  that now demand critical comment  and are exhibited in galleries nationally  and internationally. Pacific photography books are also being published.
The opening is at 3pm Saturday 2 June.

More details and photographer bios are available on the Reef Gallery Website.

Exhibition Opening for 50 Years Samoan Independence Sat 2 June 3pm

Reef Gallery
Level 1 Reef House
69-71 Beach Road
Auckland Central

Hours: Wednesday to Sunday 12 to 4pm /Tuesdays 12 to 7 or by appointment.

Intro

Public Address regulars Sofie and Jackie love dogs.  If this has not been made abundantly clear to you yet, then this will remove any residual doubt.

Having broken the Internet with our inaugural Cat Thread (does this mean we're entertaining the possibility of more?  Nooooooo!), it seems only fair that we give the canines their day in the sun.

Jackie Clark and Ruby

So. A thread all about dogs. The glory! I know many of us in this community share our lives with dogs, as well as cats. And I am privileged indeed that Jackson has asked me to share my beautiful Ruby. Last year, in May, our old girl Cleo finally succumbed to months of ill health. We were devastated and agreed that we would wait at least six months before welcoming another dog into our lives.

One way and another, for one reason and another, after only a month, Ruby arrived. I liked the look of her photo online, but when I first saw her, I cried with joy. THIS was who we were meant to have in our lives. And so it has been. As many of you close to me know, there have been trials and tribulations. Let's just call them Behavioural Issues stemming from the first 6 months of her life. We're working on those, and getting on top of them, by and large. And this thread is about the joy of dogs, so let's focus on that. These are a few captures of her very favourite things to do in the world. Mine is to watch and facilitate the doing.

Sofie Bribiesca and Stella

As far back as I can remember, a dog has been in my life. Growing up , a dog was a staple in our family. Mostly mutts, but the odd pedigree.I remember Chocolate and MaÒana, Ashtin and Dougal, Chelsea and Missy, to name a few.

Then there is Stella, who is the dog that presently owns the car.  She has me chauffeur her to and from the park.  There is also shopping for such likes as Dog food and general visits around the city.

So, long time coming (but inevitable I say), I, along with Jackie, have been given the priviledge of showing our favourite dog images so I have chosen the most special little girl in my life.  If I had more space, there would of course be other shots of other dogs but I am hoping you can all cover that.  Plus, I will respond with images of Stella's friends.

It is my absolute pleasure to introduce you to our 13 year old dog Stella!!

Last weekend we decided to 'go crazy' and got tickets to see Prince at Allphones Arena, Olympic Park Sydney.  If things were different, if our seats weren't the furthest possible from the stage (we still loved it), if the venue didn't have a 'No cameras anywhere!  At all!  We will confiscate them!  We're not kidding!' policy, we might have got more than the few grainy photos of the reflections from other people's cell phones as they didn't video the concert.

Then we had Saturday in the city.  And it was a peach.

On previous visits we've found a few highlights, like the QVB building, and we did go back for the coffee.  This time we also found the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, at The Rocks, and Paddington Markets. 

The MCA is now my favourite gallery in Australia, if not the Southern Hemisphere.  They have a flyer warning of Stendhal Syndrome, and I really understood what they meant.

Thanks to my cousin's remote control, we then discovered an amazing 20th Century Modern furniture shop called Vampt, in Surrey Hills.  Of course that's if you have $27,000 for an original Wegner plywood sofa.  Gulp!  For us it was more like a museum.

Here's a few captures from our wanderings.  Feels like this would be a good chance to initiate another open thread.  Although I'd be keen if people were to focus on 'taking it to the streets', feel free to let the creative juices flow.

Just one thing, we are in negotiations for a dog thread, and the cat thread is still alive and meowing, so [redacted].

Capture away.

Last Friday night we went to see Tono and The Finance Company play the final night of their 'Up Here For Dancing' release tour at the intimate  Lucha Lounge in Newmarket. The music was great, Tono's lyrics are wry, funny and perceptive, and the audience gave them a warm welcome. I have taken photos at Lucha Lounge before, and knew the light would be difficult. Armed with the fastest black and white film I could find (Ilford Delta 3200), and trying not to get in the way too much, I managed to get some photos, the band illuminated by not much more than a load of fairy lights and a standard lamp with a 40W bulb. Here are some of the better shots.

Introduction

Yesterday Lilith posted a few photos in the comments of our EQNZ Remembrance post, and it made me think we should take the opportunity to open another thread.

So here are two different depictions of life as it goes on in Christchurch, kindly provided by two Capture and PA regulars.

Lilith - Tale One

Sumner had a Street Party last Sunday, and it was teh awesome! Our 2 main streets were closed to traffic and filled with music, food, drink, craft and clothing stalls, stuff for kids to do… and about a zillion people with their children and dogs. It was organised by some local folk who thought it would be a good idea. It was!

I couldn’t resist taking some pictures.

The pièce de résistance was the Container Cosy. Think tea cosy, but big enough to cover over a shipping container. Really!! You can read about it here. Local lady Christine Reitze asked people to contribute peggy-squares, then sewed them all together herself. The result really has to be seen to be believed.

Gudrun - Tale Two

Protest on the corner of Hereford and Montreal Street adjacent to the City Council building,  6th May 2012.  The freezing easterlies might have kept some protesters away, but those who showed up seemed drawn by a range of causes, from homelessness to insurance issues to government intransigence.

While the almost celebratory mood of the much larger protest from on the same site three months earlier had evaporated, there was
no mistaking the seriousness of people's concerns.