Open Studio Series at Whare Toi

Ngahiwi Walker

Tena koutou,
Ko Ngati porou te iwi
He kaitohutohu ki te Taua Moana Marae, ki Te Hau kapua
Ko Ngahiwi Waker ahau.

My name is Warrant Officer Ngahiwi Walker and Cultural advisor to the Chief of Navy of the Royal New Zealand Navy of 37 years. My wife, daughter, son-in-law and 7 mokopuna live in Te Hau Kapua and are all very passionate about our environment. I tutor 3 local kapa haka groups of local school Tamariki and a local adult group.

I am a carver, painter and art enthusiastic of Māori art forms and from all art platforms.

Natanahira Te Pona

Kia ora koutou,
No Te aroha, Ngapuhi oku iwi
He kaiwhaikairo mahi toi ki Roto whare, Te Raki Pae whenua (Lake House, Takapuna)
Master carver Natanahira Pono

I am very passionate about carving wood and teaching the knowledge of Māori carvings. I am also a sculpture designer and painter. I work with schools in the local areas and also connected with the local Navy Marae-Te Taua Moana ki Te Hau Kapua.

Janet Mazenier

Based in Te Hau Kapua – Devonport in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Janet Mazenier’s abstract art practice engages with place, space, time, colour and materiality. The paintings’ texturally-rich, excavated and striated surfaces speak to ancientness, the hidden, the unseen.

Paintings are made with oil paint that is mixed with beeswax (called cold wax medium, i.e. not encaustic) allowing for a non-toxic practice resulting in ephemeral, textural works. Techniques such as scratching, sgraffito, multiple ways of making marks with various types of wet and dry media and an ability to create visual and actual depth and ethereal surfaces all accrue to the final work. That her practice is as organic as is possible is a major element.

This workshop will introduce you to painting with cold wax medium – it is suitable for anyone, whether experienced with painting or an absolute beginner. If you are an advanced cold wax artist Janet will work with you to develop your work further.

Mickey Smith

Mickey Smith (US/NZ) is a conceptual artist and photographer. For over two decades, her practice has been engaged with a longstanding inquiry into libraries, books and archives — in particular the social significance of their physical existence or disappearance. Her work is heavily research based and spans numerous disciplines, including photography, video, writing and jewellery making. 

A resident of Devonport since 2012, Mickey’s Open Studio will include a preview of large scale works from her new series Domesticated, featuring images made in Devonport’s beloved secondhand bookshop, Bookmark. Works from her other long term projects, including Volume photographs, and a selection of pieces from her Daily Reminder jewellery collection will also be on display.

Lily Kaukau

Lily Kaukau is a contemporary Māori artist, she embraces cultures and the beauty of her heritage. Lily is of Ngāti Kahungungu tribal decent located on the East Coast of Hawke’s Bay. She now resides in the beautiful Te Hau Kapua (Devonport) and has made this her community for the past two years. Lily’s art is deeply rooted in Māori traditions and her identity as a Wahine Māori living within a modern world.

With a fervent passion for exploring her Māori and Scottish heritage, Lily has become accustomed to using her artistic talents to forge connections. Her work encompasses a wide range of mediums, from paintings to jewellery, innovative fashion design, and captivating digital art. Lily’s creative prowess has made her a small business owner, where her Māori business (Lily kaukau design) showcases her cultural treasures.
 
As an artist and entrepreneur, Lily Kaukau’s journey is a testament to the power of artistic expression and the exploration of one’s heritage. Through her creations, she invites you to embark on an artistic odyssey, where every stroke of the brush and every piece in her gallery speaks volumes about identity, culture, and the timeless beauty of Māori culture.

Stacey Edgar

Stacey Edgar is an artist of Japanese American descent who resides locally, finding her creative inspiration in the simple beauty of everyday things. She has a deep appreciation for the therapeutic power of nature and often seeks solace and healing in long walks, where she immerses herself in the environment around her. She documents the moments and scenes that might go unnoticed by others, drawing inspiration from her surroundings.

Her chosen medium for expressing her creative vision is photography, transforming ordinary scenes into works of art. Stacey invites viewers to see the world through her eyes, to appreciate the extraordinary in the ordinary, and to find a sense of connection in her visual storytelling. Her work is a testament to her love for nature and her role as an observer who believes in the power of art to heal and inspire.

Terehia Walker

Tena koutou katoa,
Nau mai haere mai ki te Whare Toi (Kerr st, Devonport) 
E te taha o toku whanau
No Ngapuhi, Tainui me te Atiawa
E noho ana ki te hau kapua
E te taha o toku kainga me mahi,
Ko Takarunga te Maunga
Ko Waitemata te moana,
No Aotearoa ahau
 
He kaitohutohu ahau ki Whare Toi (Depot ArtsLab)
Ko Terehia Walker toku ingoa
 
I am a local in Devonport along with my husband Ngahiwi Walker who is a local artist and a sailor in the RNZN. Our daughter, son-in-law and 7 mokopuna also attend local schools and live next to us in Te Hau kapua.

I am the cultural advisor at Depot Artspace and have been really inspired by all of the amazing artists that I work with at Depot and have met at all of the Depot exhibitions.

I am an up-and-coming self-taught artist, my passion is working with wood and creating practical items for every day usage. I am currently learning how to weave with harakeke (flax) and making various items and looking for new projects and challengers for the future.

I look forward to meeting you all at our Open Studios Series at Whare Toi.